Why Gen Alpha Can't Read
Overview
Generation Alpha, (2010-2024) are the latest generation to hit schools all over the world, with teachers leaving their jobs and describing awful attitudes, children being unable to process information and parents being completely absent. Screens are raising these kids from the early ages and it is quite literally rotting their brains.
Don't get me wrong, I love some screen time. I got my first Xbox 360 when I was 9 and I loved spending rainy days playing games like Minecraft and Viva piñata, but that was as far as my technology went. Screens can be an incredibly useful tool. and a wonderful way to encourage children to develop independence and their own interests - but the way they are often used today is too far.
Attention span
One of the most obvious effects of children having access to social media is the way short-form content, like reels or TikToks, decrease attention span and media comprehension. Children should not be flooding their brains with short 30 second high stimulation content, let alone for hours at a time.
I spoke to several primary school teachers (ages 5-11) and overall, they told me that these children struggle immensely to absorb information from written and video sources.
"They can't tell you what a video is about after they've watched it," Said teacher A, who has taught for nearly 2 decades. "I've never seen anything like it - I only have about 6 students that are fully completing their work regularly."
Not every generation alpha child is like this - but it's enough where it's a problem. Teachers are tired of dealing with abuse, inappropriate comments and jokes, and children who don't have basic knowledge enough to access the curriculum. Short attention spans stop children from reading texts, writing anything longer than a sentence or even holding long friendships and conversations with teachers.
Harmful content online
We all know what a scary place the internet can be, but children lack the experience and dicipline to keep themselves safe. Many trending memes and topics might be funny for a teenager or adult, but can be extremely harmful for a child - For example, there are plenty of instances of children quoting the "Hawk Tua" meme (referencing oral intercourse) without understanding what it means, because it went viral.
"I've had children make jokes about P.Diddy and baby oil before!" said teacher B, who has taught for 14 years. "Children should not know about that horrific situation, let alone enough to make jokes about it."
Unfortunately, this is on the mild side of things. Pornography addictions have been observed in children as young as 9, Misogyny and racism are extremely common in these children and violence and gore is easily accessible for them. This is just the beginning for the young children dealing with these things, because it will only get worse.
These kids are being exposed to awful sights, fetish content and hate even on platforms like YouTube Kids, so please if you're a parent, monitor what your child is consuming. It's disguised, it's sneaky, and it's dangerous.
Authority
The less your child listens to you, the less they will listen to a teacher.
Every child wants to be grown up, but when these kids are interacting with adults online in adult spaces it can lead to them being vulnerable to predators, or believing they are too mature for things like curfew or bedtime. This feeling of being more mature than their peers is not to be confused with the age appropriate version, because the levels and the causes are wildly different.
On top of this, if a child is obsessed with a screen then they may become extremely reactive, upset or even violent when it is taken away. When I was little, If I was told to come off my DS I'd be a little sad but I'd do it, and I'd be fine in 5 seconds - not with this new generation. Creating a dependence on screens, dopamine from short form content and high stimulation can and will stop a child's ability to self regulate, partake in hobbies, or even play.
Children with high screen times have been shown to be more defiant and rude to their parents, especially at crucial times like bedtime, dinnertime or when it comes to playing outside.
In Conclusion
We all get stressed, especially around fussy children. However, we need to hesitate before giving our children internet access. If you cannot reasonably monitor it in accordance to age, they shouldn't have it or should have relevant restrictions put on it. We should be creating spaces for children and teens to exist safely and experience freedom, and we should be pushing companies that claim to protect children to heighten their standards and put lives over profit.
Nobody gives you a handbook for parenting, but we all need to evolve and be unafraid to experiment. If you are struggling, you are not alone, and there is help for you.
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2024 Ashley Peters
