Are you ready for Generation Beta?

Photo Courtesy: pexels

STEP aside Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen A, the future is calling! And by future, we mean 2025’s new generation— Generation Beta!

Babies born in this year and for the next 14 years will make up Generation Beta or ‘Gen B’. Among all the younger generations today, they are the ones who are most likely to see the next century. Feel old yet?

But Gen B would certainly not have it easy, not with the world they’re about to inherit. From issues of climate change to a more dominating digital landscape, Gen B would have to face a variety of challenges.

The question is, would they be up for it?

In today’s discussion, we would talk about the expected traits of Gen B, and what we could expect from them.

Why are they called ‘Gen Beta’?

Unlike the previous generations, Gen Alpha and Gen Beta follow a different naming convention— that of the Greek Alphabet.

The difference in the name is not simply a decision of preference. Rather, it signifies how these two generations will be raised in a world that is unlike the ones we’ve witnessed before.

According to McCrindle, a group of Australian social researchers led by Mark McCrindle, “generational transitions are more than just chronological— they are defined by the events, technologies, and cultural shifts of their time.”

The defining feature that separates Gen Alpha and Beta from others is that they will be raised in a world of technological integration and superior digital landscape.

Shaped by technology-saturated world

Generation Alpha might have seen the rise of digital technology like Artificial Intelligence but Gen B will be the first generation predicted to experience AI and automation in every aspect of their lives. That includes school, work, health care, and entertainment.

McCrindle predicts that AI technology in the time of Gen B would be tailored to suit their needs like autonomous transportation, wearable health technology, and immersive virtual environments.

Raised by Millennials and Gen Z parents

Gen B would be raised by Millennials and Gen Z parents, which will also further affect their traits and characteristics. With more tech-savvy dads and moms, it is not surprising that they would become the digital lords of their time.

But Millennials and Gen Z would be different in the way they parent their children. According to McCrindle, while most Millennial parents would use technology to document their children’s lives, the Gen Z parents are more likely to be stricter with screentime since they were the generation who had more experience with the downside of the digital world.

Grappling with Climate Change

Unfortunately, despite their advancement in technology, Gen B would also deal with the worsening condition of Earth due to climate change. With rapid urbanization and population shifts, sustainability would become a challenge for this generation.

But since Gen B will be raised by Millennials and Gen Z, both of whom are concerned with eco-challenges, Gen B would also tend to prioritize adaptability, equality, and eco-conscious habits.

They would grow up to become more globally minded, community focused, and collaborative than ever before.

Friendships in Digital Age

McCrindle also predicted that Gen B’s approach to friendship would vary a little. Digital connectivity would be the default for this generation but due to the events we see today, they would be more careful in navigating the digital friendship. They would have more knowledge in how to deal with pitfalls and balance their life outside the digital world.

Gen B might be able to define the meaning of belonging by merging face-to-face interactions with global digital networks.

Gen B would constitute 16% of the global population by 2035. It might be a scary thought for us that someone younger and more tech-savvy would replace our generation, but it is also scary for them to inherit the responsibilities and challenges that our generation is facing right now.

Because of this, it is essential that we work together to make the future better for those who will inherit it. We must exercise empathy in the present with the future generation in mind.

After all, isn’t this the best legacy to leave behind?