Gen Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024, was set to break records, with hours spent behind screens surpassing those of prior generations. Findings suggested a correlation between screen usage and delayed development. Parents and educators raised concerns over the maturation of today’s youth.
Intelligence quotient, or IQ, has long been a tool for assessing generational change and cognitive development since the early 1900s. The test, which analyzes reasoning, comprehension, problem-solving and pattern recognition, has been widely accepted as a standard despite ongoing controversy.
IQ scores trended upward throughout the 20th century, steadily increasing with each generation. This phenomenon, known as the Flynn Effect, was named after psychologist James Flynn, who attributed the rise to improvements in education, nutrition and increasingly complex environments.
However, the validity of the Flynn Effect has recently been called into question as Generation Alpha’s scores have failed to surpass those of millennials and Gen Z.
Some experts attribute this stagnation to a natural cap on human intelligence, while others pointed to more recent generational changes—particularly the rise in technology use. While environmental and cultural factors may contribute, screen time remains the main suspect. Numerous media outlets have reported a correlation between excessive screen use and developmental delays, in addition to physical and mental health issues.
Daphne Vang, senior architecture major with Gen Alpha siblings, shared the screen addiction she observed.
“It is very easy to see the difference in screen time with my youngest brother always on his PC and hardly ever taking a break. Most of the time he is on the computer playing video games, staying up for hours,” Vang said.
An article published by Forbes cited findings from the Journal of Pediatrics, reporting “…an association between screen time at 1 year of age and a higher risk of delay in communication, fine motor skills, problem-solving and personal/social skills at age 2. The researchers also found an association between screen time at age 1 and developmental delay at age 4 in communication and problem-solving.”
Abigayle Duffield, junior elementary education major, attributed the delay more to the COVID-19 pandemic than to technology when evaluating Generation Alpha’s development.
“I’ve noticed that Gen Alpha students are growing up in a very tech-heavy world, which makes them super comfortable with screens. But the reliance on technology seems to have left their social skills a bit behind. With COVID-19 disrupting their early years, many missed out on key interactions, which has affected both their social development and academic progress,” Duffield said.
While the impact of technology and social media has long been criticized, studies related to Generation Alpha highlight the risks of early exposure.
Children as young as eight were spending an average of five and a half hours a day on screens, with usage increasing by age. According to research by Nikola Roza, this trend raised several concerns about
“Nearly 40% of Gen Alpha parents report concerns about their children’s social-emotional development…Attention spans among Gen Alpha children have decreased by approximately 30% compared to previous generations…Physical activity levels are 30% lower in Gen Alpha compared to Millennials at the same age…75% of schools report increased demand for mental health services for Gen Alpha students…95% of Generation Alpha children expect immediate responses in digital interactions, whether through gaming, social media, or messaging platforms. These kids are used to instant gratification and it carries over into their daily, offline life too.”
While social and learning skills appeared to decline, there was a notable increase in tech-related abilities, giving Generation Alpha an edge in internet literacy.
The modern implementation of frequent screen usage into daily life created a scenario where long-term effects remain unknown. Generation Alpha now stands as the guinea pig generation—the first to grow up fully immersed in technology. With early data pointing to developmental challenges, more findings are likely to emerge about the risks of growing up with constant access to screens.
Yet, with many factors contributing to generational change—such as the pandemic and early tech exposure—there is no shortage of explanations for the disparities emerging within Generation Alpha.
