Media study on Gen Alpha kids show ‘purposeful participation’ over ‘mindless consumption’ of media and increased privacy consciousness over previous gen::Gen Alpha kids are protective of their personal data online and enjoy media that allows them to control their experiences with content.
Looking at generations has more to it than simple ageism. Much of human behavior is a product of their culture, their surroundings. These surroundings change over time, and in the modern world, very rapidly. It’s the music, the films, books, memes, sayings, attitudes etc.
Discrimination is definitely something we want to avoid. But completely ignoring these unique cultural influences that change year-to-year, and are a natural part of growing up, is simply foolish. Parents do not, and should not, simply bear 100% responsibility for what their kids do, when their kids are not, and should not be, complete and utter slaves.
I’m not rejecting the claim that generations are unique and people are influenced by what they have grown up around.
However, we’re not talking about what kind of music they like or their attitude towards tattoos, but basic safety. A parent of a millennial might have a good reason to not understand the risks of private information on the Internet, as it was completely new when their kids were growing up. But now we know better.
The poster might as well have said “I saw my kid cross the street without looking and almost get hit by a car. Gen z kids make no sense to me!” No, that’s your responsibility as a parent to teach them this.
Sure maybe not 100%, but in this case case we’re taking at least 95%.
If a kids parents say one thing, and the world says another, I do not think 95% would side with the parent. I think the number would actually be flipped.
That said, I do agree that parents have an important responsibility to try to teach good safety practices.
My mother was very religious. I’m very anti-religious. Part of it is likely in direct response to how religious she was because my anti-religious stance started with hating having to spend an hour in church each week or having to spend time at my Catholic school learning about religion.
She wasn’t able to pass on arguably the most important thing to her. And while I was the only one my siblings that rebelled to the point where I refused to go to church anymore while living at home, I don’t think any of us ever go to church these days unless it’s a funeral or wedding that happens to be at a church.
I just hope my daughter isn’t pulled in by their false promises because I’m not aggressively pushing it to the point where she would rebel against it or quietly resent it.
It doesn’t take aggression to give someone the critical thinking tools that adulthood will require, and then strengthen them with support and faith in their ability to use them.