With the new year comes a new generation as well. After 15 years of Generation Alpha with their Brain Rot, TikTok dances, and slang, get ready for a new wave that’ll encompass all babies born between 2025 and 2039: Generation Beta. While our generation saw the development of technologies such as ChatGPT and Apple Vision Pro as cutting edge, Generation Beta will perhaps grow up with virtual reality classrooms and AI-best friends. We’ve marched for climate change, fought against racial inequality, and challenged social norms, but what happens when Generation Beta picks up where we left off? 

As the next chronological generation, Generation Beta will follow closely in the footsteps of Generation Alpha, meaning that they will inherit many of the cultural trends and societal norms as well as a similar set of global challenges and issues. These range from environmental issues to ones regarding geopolitics and technological developments. “Top of mind is AI, because they will be growing up with that in the ether,” comments science teacher Eshwar Ramanan (who prefers to be referred to as “Eshwar”), “[and] potentially more pandemics. I think that generation will also grow up with an awareness of [pandemics] in a way that maybe we didn’t.” Eshwar also mentions that there will also be more multi-racial people caused by migration due to a variety of factors, explaining that “climate change and geopolitical situations are going to necessitate more migration across the board for humans…there’s gonna be less available land for us as a species to live in, which means more migration and more migration typically means more mixing of the people.” 

Income inequality will continue to be an issue, and the fast development of AI will significantly transform the job market from what it looks like today. “I think we’ll see cities continue to grow, but then also we’ll see the huge income gaps continue to grow and places that were once livable for certain incomes become unlivable,” explains history teacher Ms. KV. “With technology, the prevalence of AI will just continue to grow into different sectors, so the job market for the next generation is going to look incredibly different.” 

A new generation of youngsters will mean new cultural trends and traits, which, as we have seen with past generations, evolves and changes each time. “I think ultimately, the behaviors and trends that occur in generations always pass downwards,” explains Matthew K. ’28, “and the trends that we adopt as a generation, including things like Brain Rot, are going to pass down to Generation Beta who are going to take those things and manipulate them in their own kind of way.” Furthermore, although we often make fun of Generation Alpha for their use of slang and their Brain Rot trends, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge other generations. “People always focus on the immature terminology that Generation Alpha uses,” says Brian H. ’27. “Each generation has different expectations, so we shouldn’t be so quick to judge the younger generation and what they like…because people are different.” 

With the prevalence of AI and the fast development of new technologies, our educational systems might also need to adapt to meet the needs of the new generation. “Teachers would need to be equipped with a much more robust knowledge of the ins and outs of technology like AI,” says Eshwar. Furthermore, the technological advancements have left an indelible mark on the way students learn and process information today, which is a trend that we will likely see continue and expand in Generation Beta. “I think we’re seeing now a generation of students who grew up with phones and tablets and as a teacher, I can see the influence that has on their learning styles and also their coping mechanisms with emotional hurdles,” explains Ms. KV. “I think a lot of us will turn to our phones when we’re feeling sad or anxious, and I don’t think it’s a really great strategy for coping…it’s going to sort of increase the number of kids who have to deal with anxiety and depression.” Ms. KV goes on to explain that social media can be detrimental for students, especially as their brains continue to develop, and that overall, we won’t be able to avoid technology, especially since this generation (and likely the next) relies heavily on social media for connection and social status. However, just because technology is advancing does not mean that all educational methods and systems will be outdated. “Human brains are still going to be relatively similar in the sense that we will still use the same kind of learning mechanisms; things that we’ve always done for effective learning are still going to be effective,” says Eshwar. 

As the new generation approaches, the actions we take as the prior generation will likely influence the world that they live in, and it’s in our hands to prepare the world for Generation Beta. Specifically, “start by being more independent than you’re thinking. I think you need to listen less to older generations and forge your own path. You shouldn’t accept anything as dogma,” says Eshwar. He adds that the current global geopolitical and capitalist landscape requires a shakeup, and with regards to our generation and the following ones, it’s key that we question authority and think outside the box. 

Furthermore, the increasing prevalence of AI also calls for action on our part to facilitate a healthy role for technology in the lives of Generation Beta. “It’s important for us to continue to have challenging conversations about the role of technology in our lives,” says Ms. KV, “[and] to be honest with each other about what is helpful and what is harmful for us, especially when it comes to social media and the developing brain.” A world under Generation Beta could go many different ways, and it’s worth pointing out that although technological developments have benefited society in many ways, they’ve also brought toxic culture and unhealthy habits, which is something that Generation Beta will have to deal with. “All I really want is a generation that doesn’t just trust people based on the number of followers they have or their popularity on some abstract social media site”, says Matthew K. ’28. Brian H. ’27 adds that “social interaction should always be prioritized and risk taking should always be prioritized…you have to actually go out there and experience things with real people.” 

All in all, brace yourselves for a new generation of youngsters, who will bring their own cultural trends and slang, but remember that our actions as high-schoolers in the prior generation will have a tangible impact on their technology-filled lives, and that we shouldn’t be too quick to judge their culture… even if it’s worse than Gen Alpha.