Molly Fernandes
The cream of the society we called them. But today this term is replaced with current trends.
Yes, our youth, our younger generation whom we see glued to their screens! It’s a sign of the times with catchy trends.
“Digital natives” - describing how youth today have grown up with technology with a few trending phrases that capture them. “Screen time generation” - refers to the significant amount of time they spend on devices.
“Tech-savvy toddlers” - even the little ones know their way around gadgets. “Always online” - highlighting their constant connection to the digital world and “Swipe culture” - refers to the ease with which they navigate through digital content.
Today’s youth have grown up in a digital age where technology is integral to their daily lives. They are the first generation to have access to smartphones, social media, and the internet from a young age. This has significantly influenced their communication styles, learning habits, and social interactions. Understanding their relationship with technology can help bridge the generational gap. We call them Digital Natives.
To know and understand younger generations, it will be good to analyse the unique characteristics of each generation: The Baby boomers: Born between 1946 and 1964, this generation was open to adapting to new technologies.
Gen X (1965-1980): Tech-savvy and independent, their religious involvement varies. While some are religious, fewer attend church regularly compared to older generations. Millennials (1981-1996): Digital natives who grew up with social media, they are considerably less religious than their parents’ generation. Religion is less likely to be very important in their lives.
Gen Z (1997-2012): True digital natives with strong information access, Gen Z shows a significant decline in religious affiliation. They are less likely to believe in a higher power and identify as nonreligious or non-spiritual.
Gen Alpha (2010-2025): Growing up with technology and often raised in nominally Christian families, Gen Alpha might be less familiar with strong biblical teachings. However, their digital exposure could lead them towards personalized spiritual beliefs based on their own values.
Generation Alpha refers to the demographic unit succeeding Generation Z, born between 2010 and 2024.
Generation Alpha is mostly the children of Millennials or Generation Y and is expected to be the largest generation in history. Generation born from 2025 to 2039 will be called Beta (the children of Generation Alpha) and the Children of Generation Alpha will be called Generation Gamma.
According to Pew Research, there is a noticeable trend of scepticism and declining religious affiliation among younger generations. A recent study (January 2024) indicated a shocking trend in the US: religious affiliation is now the most common religious identity in the country. A similar trend is growing in most European countries and Canada.
Pope Francis has been engaging in conversations with young adults from various backgrounds and recognises a gap in understanding younger generations.
To bridge this gap, it is very essential to know the youth and their world and to guide them showing genuine interest in their needs, dreams, and challenges.