[News Terms] The True Online Generation, the 'Alpha Generation'

US Online Media Axios Highlights 'Alpha Generation'
Generation Born Early 2010s to Mid-2020s
Growing Interest in Climate Change, Racism, Poverty, and More

'Generation Alpha' refers to the generation born from the early 2010s, when smartphones became widespread, to the mid-2020s. It is the generation following Generation Z and was newly defined in the 2020s. It is the first generation in history whose entire membership was born in the 21st century and the first generation named after a Greek letter.

Sociologist Mark McCrindle, who coined the term Generation Alpha, predicted that those born or to be born between 2010 and 2024 will number over 2 billion worldwide, making them the largest population group in history. He said, "Generation Alpha only knows a world where the boundaries between AI and humans are blurring."

The Alpha generation is a generation familiar with the use of the internet and SNS.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In Korea, where generations are distinguished by the popularization of smartphones, those born after 2013 are considered Generation Alpha. Demographers sometimes define the start of Generation Alpha as those born in 2010?2011 and include those born up to 2024?2026 as part of this generation.

From a broader perspective, those born in the late 2000s to early 2010s, specifically between 2007 and 2012, are sometimes classified as Generation Alpha because they have no memories or experiences of culture before smartphones became widespread. For this reason, those born between 2007 and 2012 are considered a transitional generation spanning Generation Z and Generation Alpha.

The most significant characteristic of Generation Alpha is their familiarity with a ubiquitous digital culture centered around smartphones. Generation Alpha spent their childhood or were born in the mid-2010s when smartphones and social networking services (SNS) were fully popularized. In Korea, the number of Generation Alpha births is approximately 3.49 million to 6.32 million, which is fewer than the previous Generation Z.

From the moment they are born, Generation Alpha grows up directly influenced by the mobile culture derived from smartphones and uses smartphones from infancy. Because of this, Generation Alpha is distinctly different from older generations who experienced analog culture.

The American online media Axios described Generation Alpha as the "first fully online generation," stating that "Generation Alpha is spending their childhood centered around media in a way different from previous generations from a very young age."
[Photo by Getty Images]

On the 1st (local time), the American online media Axios highlighted Generation Alpha, the generation following Generation Z born since the mid-1990s, in an article titled "A landmark generation."

Axios noted that since Generation Alpha, mostly children of the Millennial generation (born 1980?1994), are still being born, their future influence cannot be fully known yet, but the indicators already available show they have an influence too significant to ignore.

Axios defined Generation Alpha as "the first fully online generation." According to a survey by the U.S. market research firm YPulse, 79% of Millennial parents reported that their children use SNS, and 44% said their children watch video content on smartphones at least weekly.

Merrily Bliss, YPulse's content director, stated, "Millennial parents tend to give their children their first smartphone around the age of nine," adding, "Generation Alpha is spending their childhood centered around media in ways different from previous generations, starting at a very young age."

Axios analyzed that the COVID-19 pandemic made Generation Alpha more accustomed to online interactions such as virtual classes, but prolonged remote learning led to increased absenteeism and decreased academic achievement after the pandemic. Additionally, Generation Alpha, born in an era where the climate crisis has become a reality, shows interest in social issues such as climate change, racial discrimination, and poverty.