GENERATION ALPHA FUTURIST: UNDERSTANDING NEXT GEN CONSUMERS VS. GEN X/Y/Z

It’s a great question for a Generation Alpha futurist and keynote speaker: How does Gen Alpha differ from Millennials, aka members of Gen Y? In a previous post, we already took a look a how certain of their characteristics vary from Gen and Gen Z. But as the largest population in today’s workforce, our Millennial friends make another handy point of comparison. To this extent, as Generation Alpha futurists and keynote speakers, how about we review key generational differences between Gen Alpha and Gen Y for your insight and information?

• Technology – Members of the newer cohort are true digital natives, immersed in technology from birth. On the flip side, Millennials adapted to technology during childhood.
• Attention spans – Shh, don’t tell: Gen Alpha has shorter attention spans shaped by tap-and-swipe behaviors. By way of contrast, Generation Alpha futurists and keynote speakers tell us Millennials developed before mobile ubiquity.
• Social issues – Progressive values are innate for Gen Alpha but had to be developed as young adults for Millennials.
• Diversity – And, oh yeah: Gen Alpha diversity is broader as children of the most diverse adult generation ever. Our friends the Millennials saw the initial expansion of diversity, though.
• Education – Speaking of learning, Gen Alpha benefits from digital, customized education from the start rather than traditional models.
• Parenting – You may also be intrigued to know that in the former case, parenting is more hands-on, structured and safety-focused. To put things in context, per top Generation Alpha futurists and keynote speakers, Millennials experienced more freedom and independence.
• Financial attitudes – Pragmatic frugality and entrepreneurship take root earlier for Gen Alpha. Flip the script and you’ll see that Millennials experienced relative childhood prosperity.
• Communication – Experts tell us that Gen Alpha favors images, video, emojis and visual-first communication. By way of example on another front, Millennials rely more on text and verbal communication.
• Life priorities – The former cohort focuses more on deep purpose and meaning rather than material goals from a very young age.
• Speed of advancement – Key milestones around employment, marriage and children now happen later for Millennials compared to extremely accelerated Gen Alpha.

Were Generation Alpha futurists and keynote speakers to put it all together, we’d see that Generation Alpha has more digital native behaviors, individualism and pragmatism compared to the relatively idealistic team-oriented Millennials.