Generation Alpha: Navigating the Digital Age of Learning and Distraction

Generation Alpha: Navigating the Digital Age of Learning and Distraction

The exams have begun, but the children appearing for them are different from those we taught earlier. We refer to them as Generation Alpha—a generation that has grown up constantly surrounded by mobile phones. From an early age, they have been exposed to mostly unscreened content from the internet. As a result, teachers often complain that capturing students' attention in the classroom has become the biggest challenge.

As an educator, I find myself in a difficult position. On one hand, I recognize how transformative internet-enabled smartphones can be for learning. On the other hand, I am acutely aware that many of these children spend more than 8 hours a day mindlessly scrolling through reels and chatting with strangers on various social media platforms. When I am with them, I feel the urge to tell them that AI-powered apps are like intelligent tutors in their pockets—tools they can harness for exam preparation. However, I am also aware that excessive screen time has led to sleep and attention disorders among many students.

It is now widely acknowledged that mobile phone use has become addictive. Most companies operating in the online space have little concern for users' well-being. They are in a constant battle for attention, gathering vast amounts of user data, which is then sold to various service providers. As Shoshana Zuboff describes in her book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, we live in an era where companies profit from mining human emotions. The ability to process and sell big data generates the highest revenues for these corporations.

In terms of affordability and accessibility, there has never been a more conducive time for learning. Online content has truly democratized education. Resources that were once a privilege for a select few are now available to almost everyone. But this accessibility comes at a great cost.

How can we leverage this opportunity?

The answer is not simple. Of course, awareness about the responsible use of online services must be raised, but most apps are designed to be addictive. Can regulations help? Some countries have taken drastic measures—Australia, for instance, has banned social media use for children under 15. Critics argue that such bans are ineffective, as young users often find alternative (and sometimes more dangerous) ways to access content.

We must learn to coexist with the dominant technology of our time. Exclusion is not an option—it would only render us obsolete. Instead, we need massive awareness campaigns focused on how to harness digital tools for productive learning. We can only hope that Generation Alpha will eventually find ways to escape the addictive nature of online content and use it for their own benefit.

This is a long and challenging journey—an uphill battle. But looking at 2.5 million years of human history, I remain hopeful that we will overcome this challenge as well.