Generation 'Beta' Set To Arrive In 2025: Successor To Gen Alpha And Gen Z – What To Expect From The AI-Savvy Cohort
Generation Beta, spanning 2025-2039, will encounter rapid technological advancements and societal shifts, experts say as they share their expectations of the cohort that will grow up in a post-pandemic world.
As 2025 ushers in the start of Generation Beta, experts predict a period of rapid technological advancements and profound societal shifts. Officially spanning from 2025 to around 2039, this new cohort follows the footsteps of Generation Alpha (2010–2024), Gen Z (1996–2010), and millennials (1981–1996), with the exact dates remaining flexible as generational definitions evolve.
Mark McCrindle, a demographer and futurist, points to the environmental challenges that will shape the values of Generation Beta. In a recent blog post, he noted, “Sustainability will not just be a preference but an expectation,” emphasising the pressing need for climate action, urbanisation management, and sustainable living during the generation's formative years.
Technologically, Generation Beta is expected to heavily engage with artificial intelligence and smart devices, integrating them into their problem-solving methods and everyday routines. The role of social media, which has been a defining feature for previous generations, may be markedly different for this cohort.
Gen Alpha, often referred to as "iPad kids," has been associated with content-driven platforms. However, as Gen Z parents become the most tech-savvy generation of caregivers, McCrindle observes, they are "pushing back on technology and the age at which their children access and engage with it."
Generation Beta will also grow up in a post-pandemic world, distant from the direct experiences of school closures and social isolation that defined the earlier groups. Jason Dorsey, a generational researcher and author of Zconomy, explained in an interview with NBC that for Beta, “It’ll be something that maybe older siblings went through, certainly something they learn about in history, but not something that is necessarily a contemporary event.”
Generation Beta, according to Dorsey, will likely be deeply integrated into smart devices and artificial intelligence, unlike previous generations. They will rely on these technologies to solve problems.
Additionally, they will likely grow up with climate change as a stark reality, with more direct and immediate impacts on their lives. As they mature, they will witness Gen X and Baby Boomer leaders gradually being replaced by Millennials and Gen Z in addressing these challenges.
Dorsey further stated, “We will likely have Gen Z as elected officials when Gen Beta is old enough to vote. Climate change will remain a significant concern for them.”
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Contentions Over Generational Labels
Despite the rapid evolution of technology and societal shifts, Dorsey also cautioned against over-relying on generational labels. He stated, “These are clues to help us get context for what a group of people likely or may have experienced as they came of age.” However, he acknowledged the speculative nature of predicting defining moments for Gen Beta.
The use of generational labels has faced criticism, with some arguing that these labels oversimplify the diversity of lived experiences. In 2023, the Pew Research Center announced its decision to move away from generational labels, noting that factors such as race and class often play a more significant role in shaping people’s shared experiences. "By choosing not to use the standard generational labels when they’re not appropriate, we can avoid reinforcing harmful stereotypes or oversimplifying people’s complex lived experiences," Pew researchers wrote.
As Generation Beta officially takes its place in history, experts and critics alike continue to debate the true value of generational classifications in understanding the diverse experiences of society.
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