There’s a rising generation that many are still unfamiliar with, yet they are poised to become a significant demographic force. In the coming years, they will outnumber the Baby Boomers, and remarkably, many are expected to live well into the 22nd Century.
This generation is Generation Alpha, born to Generation Y parents and often the younger siblings of Generation Z. In simple terms, Generation Alpha encompasses individuals born between 2010 and 2024. Globally, more than 2.8 million Generation Alphas are born each week. By 2025, when this generation is complete, they will total nearly 2 billion people – making them the largest generation in world history.
Defining Generation Alpha: More Than Just Age
While they are the youngest cohort, Generation Alpha’s influence and purchasing power are already notable. They are shaping social media trends, driving popular culture, and emerging as significant consumers. As the 2020s progress, they will transition into adulthood, enter the workforce, and form households, whether society is ready or not. For anyone wondering “What Generation Is 2012,” the answer is definitively Generation Alpha.
Generation Alpha definition banner. Text on image reads “Generation Alpha are defined as those born from 2010-2024”.
The Most Materially Endowed Generation in History
Generation Alpha is arguably the most materially privileged generation ever. They are also the most technologically integrated, growing up in a world saturated with screens and digital devices. Furthermore, they are projected to have longer lifespans than any preceding generation. If you were born in 2012, you are part of a generation experiencing unprecedented access to resources and technology from a young age.
They are expected to remain in education longer, begin their careers later, and continue living with their parents for extended periods compared to Gen Z and Millennials. Consequently, parents of Generation Alpha will play a significant role in their lives for a longer duration, with many Gen Alphas potentially residing at home well into their late twenties.
The Screen-Age Generation: Growing Up Digital
This generation is participating in an unprecedented global experiment: constant exposure to screens from infancy. Screens serve as pacifiers, entertainment, and educational tools from their earliest moments. This “great screen age” has profound effects, especially on those immersed in digital saturation during their formative years. For individuals born in 2012, their entire lives have been within this screen-dominated era.
Infographic titled “Why are they called Gen Alpha?”. It depicts the progression of generation names from X, Y, Z to Alpha, and explains the shift to the Greek alphabet.
Born in 2010 and after, Generation Alpha emerged alongside significant technological milestones. 2010 was the year the iPad launched, Instagram was created, and “App” was declared the word of the year. From their earliest days, they have been “screenagers,” or digital natives in a way no generation before them has been. This constant digital immersion is a defining characteristic of anyone asking “what generation is 2012?”.
How Generation Alpha Learns: Education in the Digital Age
The pervasiveness of screens and technology undoubtedly shapes Generation Alpha’s approach to learning and education.
While traditional childhood activities like piano lessons, sports, and reading books remain valuable, the methods through which Gen Alpha learn are increasingly influenced by technology. Devices like smartphones and tablets provide unprecedented access to information and interactive learning experiences. This trend is already evident in Generation Z, where platforms like TikTok (42%) rank as the third most popular tool for self-teaching new skills, surpassing even parents (39%). For those in the 2012 generation and beyond, digital literacy is not just a skill, but a fundamental aspect of how they engage with the world and acquire knowledge.
The internet has democratized information access, making learning resources readily available to more people than ever, particularly for these emerging generations.
Generation Alpha’s Economic Impact: A Trillion-Dollar Force
By 2029, as the oldest members of Generation Alpha enter adulthood and the youngest reach the age of five, their collective economic footprint is projected to exceed US$5.46 trillion. This substantial figure underscores the importance for organizations to consider Generation Alpha as the consumer base of the future. Businesses are already beginning to analyze “what generation is 2012” represents in terms of consumer trends and future market demands.
Infographic titled “Generation Alpha’s Purchasing Power”. It highlights the projected economic influence of Gen Alpha reaching trillions of dollars by 2029.
The Naming of Generation Alpha: A New Beginning
Just over a decade ago, while researching the book “The ABC of XYZ: Understanding the Global Generations,” it became clear that a new generation was beginning, yet it lacked a name.
Around the same time, the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was so extensive that the standard alphabetical naming system was exhausted, leading to the use of the Greek alphabet for the first time.
Drawing inspiration from this scientific approach of using the Greek alphabet after the Latin, and having progressed through Generations X, Y, and Z, “Generation Alpha” was chosen for the next cohort. It signified not a return to the past, but the dawn of something entirely new. This naming convention provides a clear answer for anyone wondering “what generation is 2012” and the generations that follow.
Generational classifications are most effective when they cover consistent age ranges, allowing for meaningful comparisons. Therefore, current generations are defined by 15-year spans: Generation Y (Millennials) from 1980 to 1994, Generation Z from 1995 to 2009, and Generation Alpha from 2010 to 2024. Following this pattern, Generation Beta is projected to encompass those born from 2025 to 2039.
If this naming system persists, we can anticipate Generations Gamma and Delta in the latter half of the 21st Century, leaving ample time to contemplate these labels as we move forward.
