How Generation Beta Will Redefine the Future of Technology and Society
I wrote the book Meet Generation Z in 2017, and it seemed to strike a chord. I subsequently have written blogs about “meeting” Generation Alpha (those born between 2010 and 2024). Guess what... it’s time to meet a new cohort.
Before I introduce you to them, perhaps a reminder of where we are generationally will help. Here is a very rough listing of the living groupings with the range of their generally agreed-upon birth years:
- Greatest Generation (1901-1927)
- Silent Generation (1928-1945)
- Baby Boomers (1946-1964)
- Generation X (1965-1979)
- Millennials (1980-1994)
- Generation Z (1995-2010)
- Generation Alpha (2011-2024)
So now “meet” Generation Beta, the first of whom are those born in 2025. And if you’re wondering why “Beta,” it’s because in the Greek alphabet “beta” follows “alpha.” According to Mark McCrindle, the author and demographer credited with helping define the last two generations, Generation Beta will include those born between 2025 and 2039. He contends that they will make up 16% of the global population by 2035, with many of them expected to live to see the 22nd century.
There’s not much you can say about a generation whose oldest member is not even a month old. What you can remark on is the nature of the world in which they will live, and how it might shape them.
For example, Generation Alpha has been dubbed the first entirely online generational cohort (the “iPad kids”). Related to this is the rise of platforms such as TikTok, which has shaped (is shaping) their lives. This is distinct from how Facebook shaped Millennials. Facebook was pre-algorithm and largely exposed you to networks of friends and family. A post-algorithm platform such as TikTok exposes users to anyone and everyone.
But now, with Generation Beta, they will undoubtedly be known as the “AI kids,” as in artificial intelligence. “Generation Beta will likely be the first generation,” writes McCrindle, “to experience autonomous transportation at scale, wearable health technologies, and immersive virtual environments as standard aspects of daily life.” This has led some to wonder if they will lack creativity and interpersonal skills.
And then there are their parents. Generation Beta will be parented by younger Millennials and older members of Generation Z. Some suspect that Gen Z parents, more savvy about all things tech, may actually limit their children’s screen time more than their own parents limited theirs.
And many societal issues – such as climate change and global population shifts – which are continually pushed down the line for future generations to deal with will undoubtedly land in their lap to address.
While some reject the use of generational labels, such as the Pew Research Center, there is little doubt that generational distinctions – in some form or fashion – are real. And can serve as helpful and real reminders. For example, if you’re still thinking of Millennials as kids, you might want to remember that the oldest are now around 44. I couldn’t help but do the math and find that it will be 2088 when the first members of Generation Beta hit my age.
Unfortunately, I won’t be around to greet them.
James Emery White
Sources
Joshua Hallenbeck and Addy Bink, “A New Generation Begins in 2025, Marking the End of Gen Alpha,” ABC News 10, December 31, 2024, read online.
“Welcome Gen Beta,” McCrindle, read online.
“Babies Born in 2025 Are Part of a New Generation—Gen Beta,” CBS News, January 1, 2025, read online.
Kim Parker, “How Pew Research Center Will Report on Generations Moving Forward,” Pew Research Center, May 22, 2023, read online.
Sudeep Singh Rawat, “2025 Welcomes ‘Generation Beta:’ All You Need to Know About This Generation,” Business Standard, January 2, 2025, read online.
Photo Courtesy: © Getty Images/David Gyung
Published Date: January 9, 2025
James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.
Originally published January 09, 2025.
