Generation Alpha is the  youngest generation, composed  of children and pre-teens born  between 2010 and 2025. Recently, the internet has been  filled with posts claiming that  Generation Alpha is struggling  in school. Social media sites,  such as TikTok, are littered with  videos of teachers talking about  how middle schoolers and elementary students cannot read.  Some even go as far to talk about  how some educators have quit  their jobs over the poor behavior  of this young generation. 

Bradley Roberson, superintendent of Oxford School District, spoke about how Generation Alpha is unlike anything that the district has ever seen before. 

“Generation Alpha has never  known a world without technology and some research has indicated it has changed the brain  development of young people,”  Roberson said. “Due to ‘always  being connected’ Generation Alpha is accustomed to the instant  gratification the internet provides. Attributes such as persistence and resilience are difficult  for a lot of Generation Alpha.” 

In the summer of 2023, the  United States released a report  on how the country’s 13-year old’s were doing in the subjects  of math and reading. The results  weren’t exactly stellar: grades  were at their lowest in decades.  Researchers suspect that this is  because of technology that Generation Alpha has grown up with.  It could also be due to events  such as lockdowns from the  global pandemic that affected  the generation that is so young  and impressionable. This generation is the future of our world,  and having grades at all time low is something that should be  terrifying not just for the generation itself, but the entire global  population who will be affected  by their future decisions. 

Teaching the alpha generation has been harder than teaching previous generations because  of short attention spans caused  by factors like social media.  Some school systems have tried  adapting to this, or else they risk  failing to properly educate.  Teachers and schools have started using hands-on interactive  activities in schools and using  technology for educational purposes. Many schools have started  integrating technology into the  classroom by supplying students  with resources such as laptops or  tablets to work on. 

“Our mission is to utilize the  tools we feel are needed to provide students the best opportunity to leave our school district  college, career, and life ready,”  Roberson said. “That often  means utilizing technology to  improve instruction, but sometimes it doesn’t.” 

In recent generations, such  as Millennials or Generation Z,  there has been an increase in  individuals with anxiety, ADHD,  and depression. It is likely that  this trend will continue, and research has already begun showing that this Generation Alpha  is showing signs of these mental  health disorders more. Disorders  and illnesses such as these have  harsh effects on the young generation and their learning development. These kids also have  extremely short attention spans, which can make learning in the classroom is difficult for kids. “Generation Alpha students  do not seem to have the attention span as previous generations which makes teaching and learning difficult,” Roberson said. “Students are easily distracted by the instant gratification social media provides.” 

Another concern of teachers, parents, and others is thatGeneration Alpha is losing their social skills due along with their education. While there is no definite way of knowing what could be causing this, many speculate it is due to how the young generation spends less time talking face-to-face. They are more likely to be found using technology to contact others than speaking face-to-face. 

“Technology has also impacted the social interaction skill sets of young people,” Roberson said. 

Generation Alpha is unlike anything that the world has ever seen. The young kids and ones to be-born are growing up around technology in a way that not even Generation Z experienced.They are having troubles caused by the events that have shaped their generation such as quarantine and the use of social media, which has led to many disorders and issues that can distract them from learning. The only way to save this generation is if schools adapt to these circumstances.Teachers cannot continue to teach in styles that have worked for previous generations, since it will not have the same positive effect. If the world wishes not to fail this young generation, our future, then schools must adapt to them and help them grow to their fullest potential. 

“Generation Alpha has unlimited knowledge at its fingertips,” Roberson said. “They have an opportunity to change the world as problem solvers.”