Throughout history, clerics have always found something to fear about the younger generation. From Plato’s concerns about writing’s impact on memory to the Victorians’ fear of the bicycle, each era has its moral panic. Today’s concern involves “Generation Alpha,” accused of worshipping technology instead of traditional values.
Unlike mediums like books or TV, the internet is an element, integral to Generation Alpha’s existence. Criticizing them for being “addicted to screens” misses the point; they’re immersed in it. The true issue is adults handing over technology without guidance. Parents rely on YouTube instead of storytelling, and tech companies prioritize addiction over safety.
Concerns about attention spans and the lost art of conversation neglect the fact that such worries have always existed. What’s different is the permanence of their digital expressions, beyond adult control. Generation Alpha’s fluency in digital language baffles adults and regulators alike. They communicate in a way born from the internet’s chaotic nature, which challenges traditional authority.
This generation’s irreverence should inspire hope despite adult anxieties about protecting them from the internet. Such “protection” often hides a fear of adult irrelevance. Though there’s a temptation to predict a bleak future for this generation, it’s better to focus on fostering what technology can’t provide: judgment, taste, and critical thinking. By providing examples of curiosity and doubt as a starting point for understanding, adults can guide Generation Alpha.
As Orwell noted, each generation believes itself smarter than the last. Generation Alpha indeed has a grasp on what’s important, but their wisdom will depend on whether adults stop preaching and instead exemplify the examined life. Perhaps the shift from pulpits to screens marks not a loss of authority but a path to liberation.