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.

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.

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.