What generation is after Gen Z? It’s referred to as Generation Alpha, and it’s the current generation of kids under about age 12. Parents who may identify as Gen Z, Millennial, or Gen X are now raising the latest generation: Gen Alpha.
While it’s not helpful to stereotype individual people based on age, this generation of kids does face some unique challenges and circumstances that may influence our approach towards raising them.
When does Gen Alpha start?
If you’re wondering, “What generation am I?” or “What generation is my kid?”, here’s a complete list of generations organized by birth years.
- Generation Alpha: Born 2013-2025 (some say 2010-2025)
- Generation Z: Born 1997-2012
- Generation Y (Millennials): Born 1981-1996
- Generation X: Born 1965-1980
- Baby Boomers: Born 1946-1964
- Silent Generation: Born 1928-1945
When someone is born very close to the cutoff date for their generation’s age range, they may end up identifying more with one generation or the other, or just consider themselves in between. Either way, the generations are more of a cultural reference than a scientific data point.
What’s unique about the experiences of Generation Alpha kids?
Diversity
Gen Alpha is defined by its diversity: Gen Alpha is the first generation of Americans in which the non-white population (52 percent) is greater than the white population (48 percent).
So far, Gen Alpha has been reported as 26 percent Latino or Hispanic, 16 percent Black, 7 percent Asian American or Pacific Islander, 6 percent biracial or multiracial, and 2 percent American Indian or Alaska Native.
In addition, Gen Alpha is growing up in a cultural moment when LGBTQ+ identities are in the spotlight more than ever. (Nearly 30 percent of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ.)
Parents and caregivers can support Gen Alpha kids by:
- Striving for diverse representation in children’s books, toys, and media
- Talking directly about race (that includes white families)
- Embracing multiracial kids’ identities
- Understanding intersectional identities
- Knowing how to support LGBTQ+ kids and teens
Social media and technology
The birth of both Instagram and the iPad in 2010 came right before this generation. Gen Alpha is the first generation to be born into an already social media-heavy world. This means that Gen Alpha’s parents have been immersed in their smartphones and social media ever since their kids were born.
While being immersed in tech can be great for visual learning, digital literacy, and adaptability, it also has its downsides and plenty of unknowns. Researchers are concerned with factors such as impaired social and brain development, reduced physical activity, and mental health problems associated with increased social media and technology use.
Parents and caregivers can support Gen Alpha kids by:
- Practicing and modeling safe and appropriate photo sharing
- Setting boundaries for kids’ and teens’ phone usage
- Keeping open communication about what kids see online
- Teaching them about the tricks of disinformation
- Staying aware of cyberbullying, including under your own roof
- Taking regular time off from technology
Economy and pandemic
Gen Alpha is experiencing higher poverty rates than previous generations, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This can be explained by two major economic crises, the Great Recession of 2007-2008 and the 2020 economic downturn due to the pandemic.
Income inequities continue to widen by race and ethnicity. In 2021, the median family income for Black households was $37,600 below the average household income. In addition, families of color have been more likely to experience loss of employment income.
Poverty and income inequality can have wide-ranging effects on kids, including increased risk of having behavioral, social-emotional, and health issues. Economic, educational, and healthcare support for families will be crucial for this generation.
The Covid-19 pandemic was a defining moment for everyone who was alive from 2020 to 2023 (and beyond), but also will likely have far-reaching effects into the future. Many in Generation Alpha were directly affected by the deaths of loved ones due to Covid.
Early research has shown some evidence of young kids’ language and communication skills being impacted by the isolation of the pandemic. Early intervention helps, so widespread support for these programs will be instrumental to this generation.
Plus, most parents and caregivers can probably agree that their attitude and approach towards germs and illness in general has shifted since before 2020. Only time will tell whether and how increased anxiety about getting sick — along with the many other mental health consequences of the pandemic — will affect Gen Alpha in the long term.
Parents and caregivers can support Gen Alpha kids by:
- Knowing the seven positive childhood experiences that can help offset childhood trauma
- Making an effort to connect with kids to support their mental health and keep the lines of communication open
- Learning positive mental health practices for the whole family
- Encouraging outdoor activities and social play for kids of all ages
- Having ongoing conversations about grief