Ammar Yasin

Each generation develops distinct characteristics that shape its interaction with the world. Millennials—born from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s—are widely recognized for their adaptability and focus on sustainability issues. Gen Z, born shortly before the new millennium until around 2010, is characterized by heavy, sometimes excessive, reliance on modern technologies. Following a similar streak, Gen Alpha (born in 2010) experiences extensive exposure to digital technologies and social media platforms from an exceptionally early age. Their heightened curiosity about exploring <a href="https://forestfrontiers.co.uk/millennials-gen-z-generation-alpha-and-generation-beta-connecting-and-protecting-through-nature/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">advanced</a> technological environments has made it imperative to develop ambitious policies aimed at protecting this emerging cohort from the risks associated with social media platforms, particularly TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.Serious RisksGen Alpha faces numerous risks in today’s world due to the unprecedented technological surge. These risks extend beyond social media platforms to encompass broader interactions with advanced technologies, most notably AI. In this context, the most prominent challenges confronting Gen Alpha can be outlined as follows:1- Deep Integration of Artificial Intelligence into Daily Life: Gen Alpha has grown up in a world where AI is no longer perceived as a novel technology, as it was for previous generations, but as an inseparable part of everyday life. As reliance on AI expands across sectors, AI-driven experiences increasingly personalize educational, cognitive, and practical learning processes from early childhood.While early familiarity with AI is likely to shape personal development and future professional trajectories, it also raises concerns regarding potential impacts on cognitive autonomy, intellectual growth, and value formation. These concerns are amplified by the vast and largely unrestricted digital space now accessible to this generation, which far exceeds what <a href="https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2024/09/06/gen-alpha-navigating-cybersecurity-in-an-ai-native-world/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">earlier</a> generations could navigate at comparable ages.2- Early Interaction with Modern Technology: Gen Alpha is the first generation to experience digital platforms from a very young age. This trend intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which accelerated reliance on technology as a substitute for physical interaction during lockdowns.During this period, social media platforms observed young children interacting with tablets before fully developing verbal communication skills, primary school students maintaining persistent online presence, and adolescents engaging with algorithms originally designed to maximize adult engagement. This early digital immersion carries potential risks for <a href="https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/articles/why-is-gen-alpha-turning-parental-control-tools-into-regulation-driven-compliance-infrastructure" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">child safety</a> frameworks and developmental norms.3- Excessive Screen Time and Social Media Use: Concerns over excessive screen exposure intensified following the stabbing of a French school supervisor in June 2025. The incident triggered national debate over digital protection for minors, reinforcing the prioritization of digital safety within France’s policy agenda, especially concerning Gen Alpha’s overuse of screens and social media platforms.Proposed measures include extending bans on mobile phone use from kindergartens and middle schools to secondary education, as part of a broader legislative initiative presented to the French Parliament, aiming to <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/12/31/france-seeks-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-15_6748972_7.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">curb</a> excessive digital exposure among children and adolescents.4- The Dual Impact of Digital Immersion: Gen Alpha is often described as digitally immersed from birth. While digital interaction offers opportunities for cognitive and social development, it also poses risks to personality formation, self-esteem, and emotional resilience. Limited real-world engagement may lead to anxiety, psychological fatigue, and social fragility, fueled by isolation and tendencies toward individualism over collective participation.Early digital immersion affects attention spans, life skills, and emotional intelligence. Although digital literacy and innovation bring clear benefits, excessive exposure may undermine conscious parenting and contribute to declining mental health among older children and adolescents. This underscores the need for proactive mental health awareness and early interventions, alongside helping children understand the dual impact of <a href="https://www.ijfmr.com/papers/2025/2/41649.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">digital</a> immersion.5- Expanding Role of Digital Platforms in Shaping Awareness: Gen Alpha favors fast-paced, interactive, and visually engaging content. They prioritize self-directed educational and entertainment experiences, including augmented reality applications, which shape their awareness and worldview.This reliance on digital sources raises questions about awareness formation, given the multiplicity of largely unregulated influences. Rapid global developments and the use of social media by institutions and states to disseminate ideas, justify political positions, or propagate narratives may conflict with this <a href="https://camphouse.io/blog/gen-alpha-trends-2025" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">generation’s</a> cultural and social foundations.6- Escalation of Linguistic Ambiguity and Obfuscation: Algorithm-driven social media platforms accelerate the evolution of colloquial language, promoting new trends and expressions at unprecedented rates. Adolescents increasingly adopt abstract terms, such as "Skibidi," alongside AI-generated surreal characters like "Ballerina Cappuccina" and "Tralalero Tralala."Arbitrary abbreviations, such as "6/7", widely used to indicate hesitation, have spread in schools. These linguistic practices reflect a playful inclination toward ambiguity and exclusivity, enabling Gen Alpha to cultivate an in-group language primarily understood among peers. Social media platforms serve as conduits for circulating and normalizing these obscure linguistic constructs, with the potential for increasingly complex—and possibly risky—expressions <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/style/gen-z-six-seven-meme-gen-alpha-absurdity.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in the future</a>.Protection PoliciesIn response to these risks, several policy approaches have emerged to safeguard Gen Alpha:1- Facilitating Social Reintegration and Reducing Digital Isolation: Excessive reliance on social media contributes to isolation, requiring deliberate efforts to restore real-world engagement. Encouraging participation in <a href="https://forestfrontiers.co.uk/millennials-gen-z-generation-alpha-and-generation-beta-connecting-and-protecting-through-nature/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">unstructured offline activities</a>—such as free play, nature exploration, and intergenerational interaction—helps foster social skills and teamwork.2- Balancing Autonomy with Parental Authority: As many Gen Alpha members enter adolescence, policies must balance independence with parental guidance. Adolescents should not make consequential decisions in isolation, while parental involvement should support informed decision-making within a <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/adolescent-consent-and-generation-alpha-bridging-policy-practice-and-empirical-evidence-in-healthcare/1773C8B49A361BB55747FF7BD80F0730" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">care-based framework</a>, preserving privacy.3- Government Legislation Regulating Social Media: Governments play a central role in protecting Gen Alpha. The UK’s Age-Appropriate Design Code 2020 exemplifies international regulatory frameworks addressing underage account creation and exposure to engagement-<a href="https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/articles/why-is-gen-alpha-turning-parental-control-tools-into-regulation-driven-compliance-infrastructure" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">maximizing</a> algorithms.4. Regulating Early Use of Social Media Platforms: According to the French newspaper Le Monde (31 December 2025), France is preparing a new measure to protect children from excessive use of social media. The Parliament is set to discuss a proposal that would prohibit social media use for children under the age of 15 by September 2026. This initiative is based on a draft law supported by President Emmanuel Macron, who stated earlier in December 2025 that Parliament would begin deliberations on the proposal in January 2026. This move aligns with Australia, which implemented, at the end of 2025, a ban on social media use for individuals under 16—a global precedent in this regard.The French draft law is informed by multiple studies and reports highlighting the risks associated with excessive screen time among Gen Alpha adolescents. Unrestricted access to the internet exposes them to inappropriate content and may disrupt sleep patterns and <a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/12/31/france-seeks-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-15_6748972_7.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">behavioral</a> development.Additionally, Malaysia announced in November 2025 plans to prohibit social media use for children under 16 starting in 2026. Malaysian Minister of Communications, Fahmi Fadzil, indicated that the government is preparing legislation that would criminalize the creation or maintenance of social media accounts—on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/malaysia-proposes-social-media-ban-for-children-under-16-from-2026/articleshow/125534474.cms?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Snapchat</a>—by children under 16.5- Government Efforts to Enhance Family Awareness on Social Media Use: Several governments have sought to strengthen family and parental awareness regarding responsible engagement with social media platforms. For instance, in June 2025, the Dutch government issued recommendations advising parents not to permit children under the age of 15 to use social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. These guidelines highlighted potential psychological and physical health risks associated with platform use, including panic attacks, depression, and sleep disturbances.The Ministry of Health further encouraged parents to limit their children’s screen time, remove mobile phones and laptops from bedrooms, and establish a routine comprising 20 minutes of screen exposure followed by two hours <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dutch-teens-social-media-kids-tiktok-instagram-bd4c197181298ec5099967867233fc1b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">of outdoor play</a>.6- Increased Reliance on Third-Party Applications: Certain supervisory mechanisms within social media app stores, such as Apple’s App Store and Google Play, provide developers with guidelines requiring accurate age classification and compliance with data protection standards. These measures facilitate compatibility with parental control tools through third-party applications, which serve as critical child safety features.Tablet devices such as Amazon Fire, Samsung Galaxy, and educational Chromebooks are equipped with third-party parental control tools, enhancing the capacity to mitigate risks associated with Gen Alpha’s advanced proficiency in interacting with <a href="https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/articles/why-is-gen-alpha-turning-parental-control-tools-into-regulation-driven-compliance-infrastructure" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">modern technologies.</a>7- Adapting Protection Software to Gen Alpha’s Requirements: This tech-savvy generation faces challenges related to near-constant exposure to digital technologies, including shorter attention spans, difficulty concentrating, and expectations of immediate results. These factors raise the bar for what they anticipate from available digital and educational resources. Accordingly, many institutions have adapted protection programs to align with Gen Alpha’s characteristics, including the provision of engaging, interactive content such as short videos, interactive quizzes, and game-inspired learning experiences. These materials are designed in a language and visual style consistent with the content they regularly consume.Priority is also given to experiential learning, using visually appealing infographics and innovative conceptual explanations. Protection programs are increasingly made available through mobile applications, allowing children to independently explore and engage with content. Opportunities are provided for fostering creativity and content-sharing, including visual arts, videos, and collaborative projects with peers, with the overarching aim of guiding performance effectively.Finally, gamification is emphasized—transforming the learning process into a structured, enjoyable, and participatory experience between learners and educators. This approach uses badges, point systems, and mental challenge games based primarily on logical reasoning rather than purely emotional rewards, applicable in interactions between parents and <a href="https://www.kidcheck.com/blog/generation-alpha/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Generation Alpha</a> children or adolescents.8- Integrating Technology into Protection Strategies: There is an urgent need to incorporate advanced technologies into protection strategies targeting Gen Alpha, through investment in modern tools and platforms, including AI, data analytics, and digital communication instruments. When effectively leveraged, these technologies can transform potential risks into developmental opportunities for this emerging generation.Critical to this approach is establishing clear objectives and values in relation to the diverse applications of AI, and proactively equipping Gen Alpha from an early age. Given their unprecedented access to and proficiency with advanced technologies, this generation can interact with digital tools at a much earlier stage than previous generations, necessitating tailored protective and educational frameworks that reflect their unique <a href="https://greco.services/evolution-of-leadership-meeting-the-needs-of-generation-alpha/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">technological landscape</a>.9- Responsible Cybersecurity Governance: Gen Alpha has been the subject of extensive behavioral and psychological research aimed at understanding their personalities and behaviors, as well as informing the development of a future-oriented market more aligned with the strategic interests of major technology and social media companies. Psychologists and marketing experts have undertaken considerable efforts to explore this generation and accurately delineate their characteristics within the cohort of the most influential potential users, particularly regarding their seamless transition into the digital era and their advanced familiarity with cyber content.This unique profile places a significant responsibility on policymakers to design governance frameworks that facilitate safe, accountable, and compliant use of modern technologies by Gen Alpha—both on social media platforms and across broader digital environments. These frameworks must ensure that the generation’s engagement with technology is effectively managed while supporting their developmental and cognitive needs in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.In sum, there is an urgent need not only to safeguard Gen Alpha through conventional care frameworks but also to understand their fundamental needs and engage with them using the most advanced technological tools they already master. This includes recognizing the abbreviations, novel words, and unconventional linguistic structures they create and incorporate into their evolving digital lexicon.Equally important is acknowledging this generation’s unique dual capacity: they are both highly capable of benefiting from modern technologies and simultaneously vulnerable to their adverse effects. Their reliance on technology profoundly shapes their awareness and understanding of the rapidly evolving world around them.Taken together, these realities raise critical questions about the effectiveness of current policies and the suitability of future interventions, particularly considering the unprecedented speed and intensity that define Gen Alpha’s lived experience.

Policy Responses to Social Media Risks Facing Gen Alpha