The impact of a digital-first upbringing on Generation Alpha, questions whether constant exposure to technology has led to concerning trends like shortened attention spans and rising consumerism. The increase in reliance on screens is beginning to foster a "brain-rot" culture, a term that has been used to describe this generation. Is it time to rethink our dependence on technology and its influence on the youngest generation? What should be done? Is it too late?
Illustrated by Aleena Gao
Written by Navya Chitlur
Edited by Yash Sunkesula
COVID-19 was a dire pandemic leading to mass hysteria, deaths, and lockdowns. Though this was a period of distress for many, the lockdown led to the rapid development of technology. Due to this, the world began to rely more and more on technology every day in order to facilitate basic tasks. Since the downsides of this were unnoticeable at first, this routine continued, and the first signs of a more internet or social-media-oriented culture were noticed in Generation Z (GenZ). There was the emergence of new slang terms, TikTok dance culture, and more. Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) (2010 - present) brought technology-oriented culture to a new level, with social media trends becoming more of a “brain-rot” culture, and easy accessibility to devices causing children to be overly aware and to grow up too quickly.
The cultural boom led to the rapid production of devices, making them a staple in Gen Z’s culture. Since Gen Alpha was handed these devices right from birth and was raised around screens, their world revolves almost entirely around them. People are now beginning to realize the problem caused by the overproduction of technology. Despite their young age, many Gen Alpha kids have developed teenage-addict behavior and have been dubbed names such as “iPad kids,” or “Sephora kids,” referring to children who are attached to their screens or children who unnecessarily use skincare and makeup meant for teenagers. The trend of Sephora kids has also led to an overall influx of consumerism, especially with items such as Stanley cups. In addition to this, Gen Alpha’s “brain-rot” culture has taken over the internet and social media entirely, allowing nonsensical phrases such as “skibidi toilet,” “what the sigma,” or “W rizz” to be incorporated into the everyday vocabulary of nearly all of Gen Alpha, along with other social media users in previous generations as well. This generation's reliance on social media leads to a shortened attention span, a tendency to procrastinate, and “doom scroll,” growing their impatience and hostility.
Furthermore, Gen Alpha has majorly indulged in newer occupations such as content creation, leading to a lack of diversity in their occupations pool, and causing an unstable future for their society’s progression. According to analysts at Goldman Sachs, “the [content creation] industry’s ‘total addressable market,’ an estimate of consumer demand, will jump from $250 billion [in 2023] to $480 billion by 2027,” meaning that the content creation industry is estimated to approximately double its revenue by the time Gen Alpha begins working.
Gen Alpha’s constant technology use has led to them overstimulating themselves and developing a shorter attention span, but at the same time, dumbing down the content that they intake, leading to a reinforced loop of brain rot. They are therefore developing behaviors such as procrastination, laziness, or depression, ensuring an unsuitable future for them, especially due to the circumstances they have been born into, with a failing economy, global wars, and climate change. Additionally, Gen Alpha are being handed their devices at a young age, fueling their reliance and addiction to technology and social media. According to McCrindle, “Gen Alpha spends more time looking at screens than any other generation,” due to their early access to devices. The screens infringe on Gen Alpha’s ability to complete tasks, achieve personal goals, and anything else that allows them to become the best possible version of themselves due to the intensive distraction that the media provides. However, Gen Alpha cannot be blamed for their addiction to technology, because they were born in an environment in which phones and social media were handed to them at a young age, automatically making their brains adapt to that environment and quickly grow addicted to their screens.
Despite Gen Alpha’s reputation, they have also proven to be more socially aware, as well as more knowledgeable. Gen Alpha is being raised at a time with constant movements for equality and peace, therefore allowing that mindset to raise them, in addition to their knowledge of global events due to their presence on media apps. Additionally, Gen Alpha is being raised in an advanced world, surrounded by technology, meaning that they are absorbing more advanced knowledge and intellectuality than the previous generations.
The turnout of Gen Alpha served as somewhat of a warning to humanity and their reliance on technology, calling for people to slow the development of technology and begin to replant trees and foster in-person communication and exchanges. However, this goal is also met with opposition from many previous generations because that could potentially mean undoing the progress that humankind made technologically, while also putting many people out of their jobs due to the reduction in the development of electrically powered machinery. Additionally, since Gen Alpha has been a milestone in society’s reliance on technology, future generations will have a much harder time escaping from the black hole of media, meaning that Gen Alpha should attempt to cut down their media usage as early as possible to stop this from happening.
The evolution or adaptation of humans to a society of screens is prominently seen through Gen Alpha’s lifestyle, which then caused a sense of paranoia in the older generations and called for them to pump the brakes on the fast-paced evolution of technology. People are beginning to realize they need to maintain and put reins on the overuse of technology, as well as the influx of consumerism and slang culture, and instead need to maintain in-person contact and proper communication, especially while teaching the newer generations.
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