15 Gen Alpha Trends That Have Millennials and Boomers Totally Confused
If you thought keeping up with Millennials was tough, wait until you meet Gen Alpha. Born from 2010 onward, these kids are growing up in a fully digital world where voice assistants, AI, and virtual hangouts are just part of daily life.
They don’t just use technology; they live in it, and their habits and interests are already shaping trends that older generations can’t quite understand. Gen Alpha sets the stage for a future that looks wildly different from what Boomers and Millennials grew up with, from their favorite forms of entertainment to how they communicate.
Talking to Technology Like It’s a Friend
Gen Alpha doesn’t just use Siri and Alexa—they have full-blown conversations with them. Asking voice assistants for homework help, jokes, or even advice feels completely normal to them. Boomers may see this as strange, while Millennials, who remember early clunky AI, are still adjusting to the idea of a digital best friend.
Preferring Watching Gamers Over Playing Games
Platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming have made watching others play as exciting as playing yourself. Gen Alpha loves to watch their favorite streamers conquer levels, build worlds, and react in real-time. Boomers think it’s odd—why watch when you can play? While millennials might understand from their early days of Let’s Play videos, they still feel like it’s gone to a new extreme.
Digital Playdates Instead of In-Person Hangouts
For Gen Alpha, socializing doesn’t always mean meeting up in person. They log into a game like Roblox or Minecraft and hang out virtually. They build, chat, and explore digital worlds without leaving their bedrooms. Millennials and Boomers, who grew up with neighborhood bike rides and park meetups, might struggle to see how these online interactions feel just as real to Gen Alpha.
Influencers Their Age
Forget Hollywood A-listers—Gen Alpha is likelier to look up to a 10-year-old TikTok star than a movie celebrity. Young influencers shape their fashion and language trends and trust peer-created content over traditional media. Boomers are baffled by this shift, and Millennials, who grew up on MTV and pop stars, are still adjusting to kid-led social media fame.
Emojis and GIFs as Full Conversations
Why type out a sentence when a string of emojis can get the point across? Gen Alpha is fluent in digital shorthand, often using a mix of emojis, GIFs, and stickers instead of words. Millennials can keep up (mostly), but Boomers may find themselves lost in translation.
Be Real Over Perfect Instagram Pics
Gen Alpha isn’t interested in overly curated social media feeds. They love BeReal, an app that promotes real, unfiltered snapshots taken randomly throughout the day. Millennials, who perfected the art of Instagram aesthetics, and Boomers, who still believe in posed family portraits, find this “messy” approach a bit confusing.
Loving Nostalgic Cartoons They Weren’t Even Alive For
Somehow, Gen Alpha is obsessed with ‘90s and early 2000s cartoon characters. They wear SpongeBob sweatshirts, collect Hello Kitty merch, and talk about Scooby-Doo like they grew up with it. Boomers think it’s cute but puzzling, and Millennials, who grew up watching these shows, are shocked to see their childhood icons back in style.
Digital Avatars Over Real-Life Style
Why worry about real-world fashion when you can dress up your digital avatar? Gen Alpha spends just as much time customizing their online personas as they do picking out outfits for school. Boomers and Millennials, who grew up expressing style in real life, struggle to understand the hype of virtual fashion.
Learning Through YouTube, Not Textbooks
Gen Alpha doesn’t just Google answers—they watch YouTube tutorials for everything from math homework to life hacks. Traditional textbooks and encyclopedias seem outdated to them. Boomers might miss the days of library research, while Millennials, who relied on Wikipedia, are at least familiar with the digital shift.
ASMR Obsession for Relaxation
Whispers, tapping sounds, and soap-cutting videos? Gen Alpha loves ASMR, using it to relax, fall asleep, or enjoy oddly satisfying sounds. Boomers are confused, and even Millennials, who grew up with loud music and action-packed entertainment, can’t quite understand the appeal.
Owning More Digital Goods Than Physical Ones
From in-game currency to NFTs, Gen Alpha sees digital purchases as just as valuable as real-world items. They’ll gladly spend allowance money on Fortnite skins or adopt virtual pets. Boomers, who believe in owning tangible things, find this baffling, while Millennials, who embraced the early days of digital downloads, are still adjusting to this level of virtual spending.
Skipping Full-Length Movies for Short Videos
Why sit through a two-hour movie when you can get an entire story in a 30-second TikTok? Gen Alpha loves short-form content and has little patience for anything that drags on. Millennials, who grew up watching full-length Disney movies, and Boomers, who still enjoy long films, don’t get how attention spans got so short.
Caring About Climate Change From a Young Age
Gen Alpha is hyper-aware of climate issues and talks about sustainability as if it’s second nature. They prefer reusable water bottles, thrifted clothes, and eco-friendly brands without being convinced. Boomers admire their passion but may feel it’s extreme, while Millennials, who were the first to champion eco-conscious trends, are impressed by how much further Gen Alpha has taken it.
Having High Expectations for Tech Everything
For Gen Alpha, slow Wi-Fi or outdated software isn’t just annoying—it’s unacceptable. They expect everything to be instant, seamless, and intuitive, from their apps to their smart home devices. Millennials, who still remember dial-up internet, and Boomers, who lived through typewriters, can’t believe how impatient Gen Alpha is when technology isn’t perfect.
Thinking of School as a Hybrid Experience
For Gen Alpha, school isn’t just a place—it’s an online and offline experience. Virtual learning, Zoom classes, and interactive apps are just as normal as traditional classrooms. Boomers, who grew up with chalkboards and handwritten notes, find this shift mind-blowing, while Millennials, who barely had Smartboards in school, wish they had the same tech growing up.
Related: 15 Clever Hacks To Reduce That Never-Ending Grocery Bill
Managing grocery expenses can be challenging for many households, especially with rising food costs and fluctuating budgets.
However, with some creativity and resourcefulness, you can implement numerous clever hacks to reduce your never-ending grocery bill without sacrificing the quality or variety of your meals.
