Raising Generation Alpha in the Digital Age
The children of millennials, Generation Alpha will never remember a time before apps, AirPods, and artificial intelligence. Being connected 24/7 is useful, and technology certainly has its benefits, but raising the most tech-savvy generation to date also comes with a unique set of responsibilities. When should your child have their own social media accounts? What is an acceptable amount of screen time? Are there drawbacks to sharing your child’s achievements online? This site will seek to provide answers to your most pressing questions about keeping your kids safe online, introducing them to the digital world, and helping them be their authentic selves online.
As millennials embrace parenthood, the question isn’t if they should share the lessons they learned about the long-lasting effects of our digital actions with their children, but when.
What’s the difference between an online persona and an offline one? The answer should be nothing. But after one scroll through social media, you’ll find perfect vacation photos that hide our jet lag, fancy food spreads instead of instant noodles, and pool-side pics that mirror our favourite influencers.
America’s newest generation, dubbed Generation Alpha, is younger than 12 but can already out-text and out-post their tech-savvy Millennial parents. While Millennials have experienced the influence of the Internet in their late youth, their children are experiencing an entirely different childhood.
Tiny feet still leave footprints
One thing that hasn’t changed in the digital age? Proud parents want to share their kids’ accomplishments with family and friends. But parents must consider how their interactions online will affect their child in the future. The photos and videos posted now will stay part of your child’s online presence once when they grow up. Kids can handle the conversation about what is posted about (or by) them at a much earlier age than you think, so if your child is starting to explore photos and conversations they’re seeing online, it’s the right time to have this discussion.
What is it teaching our kids? Is it making attention spans shorter? Is it turning us into robots? While internet safety should always be a priority, parents shouldn’t panic about how it’s shaping their kids
For me, the issue extends beyond digital safety; it’s more about the decisions you are making about your child’s digital history. I’m by nature an over-sharer, I work in social media and I share just about everything with the exception of sex, politics and religion...
We asked ourselves, how far are people willing to go when it comes to baby name domains? What do they think about making a baby website for their child? Would they change their minds and go for another option in choosing baby’s name for the sake of domain
I was part of the very last group of people who grew up not knowing what it was like to have someone share your entire life on the Internet before you were old enough to know what that might mean...
Privacy Please: The key to safe browsing
Growing up, millennials were told not to share personal info like addresses, phone numbers, or social security numbers with strangers online. Kids now have to think about a new kind of data security: how their browsing information is used, how photos are stored, who has access to “private” messages and posts, and more. Learn more about protecting your child’s privacy and what to do about the invisible trail your child is leaving behind.
Millennials grew up hearing all of the usual warnings about internet safety. And while these are still good tips, Gen Alpha will have to deal with a different type of online security: data privacy.
When’s the right time to start talking about personal branding? The answer is probably earlier than you think. “Delete” doesn’t mean “gone forever,” and the online decisions made at 12 could shape future perceptions of your child.
There are a lot of things you do not want your youngsters to see at an early age. Luckily, there is a way to make Internet use safe for your child. All it takes is a little bit of your time and some preparation.
Privacy Please: The key to safe browsing
Growing up, millennials were told not to share personal info like addresses, phone numbers, or social security numbers with strangers online. Kids now have to think about a new kind of data security: how their browsing information is used, how photos are stored, who has access to “private” messages and posts, and more. Learn more about protecting your child’s privacy and what to do about the invisible trail your child is leaving behind.
How tech is impacting Gen Alpha
Spending too much time on devices seems to be at the forefront of nearly every parenting conversation from magazine covers to Facebook groups. But, in moderation, technology can help kids foster relationships and connections, promote creativity and curiosity, and provide access to research and other valuable information. In fact, 87% of Gen Alpha parents say access to the Internet has actually helped their child perform better in school. Get the facts here.
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Only 2% of Gen Alpha is not using any type of technology
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54% of Gen Alpha parents say tech helps their kids connect with other kids in a positive way
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Only 7% of Gen Alpha parents say technology has had a negative effect on kids
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54% of Gen Alpha parents say tech has improved their relationship with their kids
Generation Authentic
We are slowly moving toward the world of unified online identities, with all our private and public information being stored in one place. Taking care of the way we present ourselves online is going to be even more important in the future. Because Generation Alpha is growing up around technology, parents must take extra care to help their kids portray themselves online in an authentic way that expresses who they really are. By encouraging your child to be deliberate about posting their true selves online, you are setting them up for more authentic relationships in the future, a healthier self-image and an online profile they can control.
America’s newest generation, dubbed Generation Alpha, is younger than 12 but can already out-text and out-post their tech-savvy Millennial parents. While Millennials have experienced the influence of the Internet in their late youth, their children are experiencing an entirely different childhood.
Our online presence should be an extension of who we are as a person, not a carefully curated version of it. Social media once seemed to be an easy way to connect with friends and family, yet recently, it’s a hub for the most carefully curated version of ourselves.
Raising the first generation of digital natives is not an easy task for any parent. Today’s kids use apps like Instagram almost intuitively – to share photos, videos, messages, and stay connected with peers and family. Teens across the globe consider their digital identity to be as important as their offline world.
Even when they pass the age limit that allows them to join social networks, kids still need our help. Let’s call these rules “Rules of Etiquette”. They underline interactions with other people online, and put an emphasis on safety and self-respect:
What type of (online) parent are you?
There is no textbook answer to how you should behave in every single parenting scenario, especially when you add the online dimension to the equation. As long as you approach parenting with care and total commitment to your kid’s long-term benefit, you are probably on the good path. However, parents tend to fall into one of three categories when it comes to preparing their children to the online world. Take our quiz and find out where you fit in!
These resources are aligned with .ME’s mission to serve
When .ME was founded, the team knew the business could serve as a platform to raise awareness about the benefits of technology and equip people with the skills needed to successfully navigate the digital world. There are three major pillars that feed into this mission: educating young people and inspiring them to pursue a career in tech, helping people and businesses make use of the benefits of living in a digital world, and exchanging knowledge and supporting other tech companies. You can read more about .ME’s CSR strategy here.