Gen Alpha Values Privacy Online More Than Older Generations, Study Reveals
By Movieguide® Contributor
A new study into the media preferences of the youngest generation, Generation Alpha, revealed how their engagement with technology differs from older generations.
Silicon Valley has long followed the mantra of “move fast and break things.” While this has led to incredible advancements in a very short time – providing major profit – it has also left significant havoc in its wake.
Addictive features and the relentless mining of personal data have made the public skeptical of Silicon Valley in recent years. Lawmakers have also started to hold tech companies accountable for the negative impacts their products have had on consumers.
These changes in public opinion have not been overlooked by Generation Alpha – those born roughly between 2010 and now – who value privacy and engaging technology above all else, according to a new study.
Unsurprisingly, Gen Alpha is the most technologically native generation to date, receiving their first smartphone at age 9 on average, compared to Gen Z at age 12. Despite the younger age, Gen Alpha appears to be more mature with their tech use, preferring to use technology for a purpose rather than passive consumption.
This difference has led to a subtle change in gaming habits, for example. While competitive games like Fortnite and Call of Duty have been Gen Z’s bread and butter, Gen Alpha prefers creative games such as Roblox and Minecraft.
The problem of addiction, however, has not been solved, as 48% of kids globally play Roblox every day for an average of 130 minutes, and 17% play Minecraft daily for 47 minutes.
The generation is also just as addicted to their phones as the rest of us, with three of their top five favorite activities being conducted on technology. Watching videos and playing video games ranked as their first and second favorite activities, while scrolling social media ranked fifth.
Gen Alpha, however, has become more aware of online privacy, with most kids telling their parents to ask them for permission before posting a picture or video of them online.
These changes within Gen Alpha have come as a result of societal change. This highlights how kids pick up habits from adults that shape their actions and worldviews in the future. The best way to raise children to use technology appropriately is to model appropriate use yourself.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Because of the prevalence of screens, parents should model how children should interact with digital media.
“There is no substitute for adult interaction, modeling and teaching,” Movieguide® previously reported.
Movieguide® founder Dr. Ted Baehr frequently discusses how children learn from modeling what they see in real life and in entertainment:
One is the principle of modeling. Research shows that children imitate, even from the moment of birth. Children follow the examples that are set for them, not only in real life, but also in literature. Parables are examples of teaching tales people have used to help children learn how to live. Research shows that the entertainment media provide “scripts” for a child’s future behavior.
