A new generation will be born in 2025: Gen Beta
The new generation “will inherit a world grappling with major societal challenges,” Mark McCrindle, the demographer and social researcher who coined the term “Generation Alpha”, wrote in a blog post, according to The Independent.
“With climate change, global population shifts, and rapid urbanization at the forefront, sustainability will not just be a preference but an expectation,” McCrindle wrote.
For Generation Beta, environmental consciousness and a sustainable lifestyle will be ingrained from an early age, as they will be tasked with finding solutions to the pressing ecological concerns of the 21st century, the experts say.
Technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, will be a dominant force in their daily lives, according to McCrindle.
“Generation Beta will live in an era where AI and automation are fully embedded in everyday life: from education and workplaces to healthcare and entertainment,” McCrindle explained.
However, the demographer also said that parents of Gen Betas, who will be mainly Gen Zers and younger millennials, may take a different approach to technology use than their predecessors.
“While many millennial parents used social media to document their children’s lives, Gen Z know more about both the positives and challenges that come with social media use from a young age,” McCrindle said.
McCrindle added that limiting screen time will be a priority for the parents of Gen Beta, who will most certainly have less screen exposure during childhood than Gen Alpha, who have been nicknamed “iPad kids”.
The social science researcher also said that Gen Beta will be looking at a remarkable life expectancy due to advances in healthcare and longevity technologies with many of them living well into the 22nd century.
By 2035, Generation Beta is expected to make up 16% of the world’s population. Their high life expectancy, unprecedented technological advances and the world’s problems they’ll inherit will present them with unique challenges and opportunities.