Gen Alpha is about to have some competition. Babies born after January 1, 2025 will be part of Generation Beta (Gen Beta), the newest generation. The Beta Gen is for those born between 2025 and 2039.
According to research firm McCrindle, Gen Beta will make up 16% of the global population by 2035, and many children of Gen Beta will be able to live into the 22nd century.
McCrindle was founded by social researcher Mark McCrindle, who coined the term Gen Alpha.
Here are the common generations for people born in the last 100 years:
Gen Beta: 2025-2039 Gen Alpha: 2010-2024 Gen Z: 1997-2009 Millennial: 1981-1996 Gen X: 1965-1980 Boomers: 1946-1964 The Silent Generation: 1928-1945
Gen Beta is predicted to be heavily influenced by technology, similar to Gen Alpha, who are sometimes referred to as “iPad kids” because of their dependence on technology.
Gen Beta's lives will be shaped by AI and automation, McCrindle writes, while also facing major societal challenges like the climate crisis and global population change.
Parents of today's Gen Alpha babies are increasingly faced with managing their children's relationship with technology, including AI tools, which have become increasingly popular since ChatGPT launched in November 2022.
A Pew Research Center study published in November 2023 found that one in five students who had heard of ChatGPT had used it to help with homework.
Parenting commentators have previously told Business Insider that Gen Alpha parents should try to keep their kids off social media for as long as possible, given its negative impact on mental health.
However, the appropriateness of using these generational labels has been questioned in the past.
