‘Gen Alpha is often categorised as the generation raised by technology’.

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16 May 2025

Where did Gen Alpha get the audacity? A Gen Z take

Lola Kadas in Budapest, Hungary

16-year-old Lola Kadas criticises Gen Alpha’s excessive screen time and lack of parental guidance

I’m sick and tired of constantly hearing the words “skibidi toilet” (a nonsensical expression and internet meme) and “rizzler” (charmer) echo through the hallways of my school.

Most of the time, these words are coming from my Gen Alpha schoolmates (the generation born between 2010 and 2024), who seem to think the louder they say “sigma” (a term for someone with abundant confidence), the more hilarious it is.

However, their slang is the least of my concerns compared to their disrespectful attitudes towards both adults and their peers.

A distinct memory that shapes my perception of Gen Alpha is when a group of friends and I were minding our own business during a break in school when a boy – about the age of 11 – approached and started directly insulting us. He mocked us, based on our appearances and our races, leaving us all flabbergasted.

I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of mindset allowed him to come up to us by himself and simply call us names without hesitating.

Can Gen Z use social media to learn?

By Maria Mitko

Gen Alpha is often categorised as the generation raised by technology, with 49%of them having their own tablets. In many cases, Gen Alpha kids interact with screens before they are able to speak. The American psychologist Dr Catherine Nobile says that this early access to technology has enabledthem to “express their opinions from an early age”.

While forming and sharing opinions is very valuable to children’s development, an infinite platform like the internet is not the appropriate introduction to doing that. Instead of being handed an overwhelming and often unmonitored digital device, children should be taught by parents how to express their beliefs properly.

As they are the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century, they have been through the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of AI, both shaping their upbringing in crucial ways.

The result of the pandemic on Gen Alpha was extremely significant, as it caused many of those born during or around the pandemic to show delays in social and emotional development. Not only that, but the influx of technology caused by Covid has led to a spike in tech usage with Gen Alphas. At the moment, more than half of the generation spends four hours a day on social media. In contrast, Gen Z is online on socials for two hours and 43 minutes a day.

Due to the high number of hours Gen Alpha spends on social media, their self-perception is heavily impacted. Specifically, the unrealistic beauty standards that young girls on social media are exposed to can have extremely harmful effects on their self-image and confidence.

According to Dove, a popular personal care brand, 56% of girls say they “can’t live up to the beauty standards projected on social media”. But how could they? It has become normalised for pictures and videos of female online personas to be edited to make their subjects fit narrow expectations of beauty. On the other hand, some even claim they have a natural body when they have actually had plastic surgery, filler, or other procedures done.

Children’s lack of ability to filter misinformation and disinformation can cause lasting damageto how they think about themselves.

This is why parents should prioritise creating an environment that supports their children’s self-growth rather than letting screens shape their sense of self.

Apart from social media overconsumption, disrespect and a growing disregard towards elders is the other big issue. As Dr. Nobile states, what is most important is “to help Gen Alpha develop the balance between confidence and being a bully, and between self-esteem and arrogance.”

While their behaviour is concerning, it’s not all their fault. The responsibility falls on parents too. If they want a generation that is respectful, they need to step up and, apart from cutting screen time, lead by example.

At the end of the day, it is not technology’s job to raise these kids. It’s that of the people who hand it to them.

Written by:

Lola Kadas

Editor-in-Chief 2026

Budapest, Hungary

Lola Kadas joined Harbingers’ Magazine in the summer of 2024 as a contributor during the Oxford pop-up newsroom. After completing the newsroom and writing course, she became a staff writer later that autumn, covering society and public affairs.

Her strong writing and dedication to the magazine led to her appointment as Society Section Editor in 2025. During this time, she also reported from Bali, Indonesia, where she worked on a special project exploring the local mental health landscape and produced a series of thought-provoking articles.

Following a successful year in that role, and in recognition of her steady development and commitment, Lola stepped into the role of Editor-in-Chief in 2026, sharing the position with Arnav Maheshwari.

This will mark the first time the magazine is led by joint Editors-in-Chief, reflecting the growing scope and ambition of the publication. In her new role, Lola will also introduce a fact-checking system to further strengthen the magazine’s editorial standards.

Born in 2009, Lola has lived in both Budapest, Hungary, and California, United States. She is interested in music, pop culture, politics and mental health, and plans to study entertainment business in the future. She speaks English, Hungarian, French and Spanish.

In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts and creating studio art, and is a fan of Taylor Swift’s music.

Edited by:

Sofia Vorobei

Culture Section Editor 2025

Vergel, Spain

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