Beta Watch Out! The Next Generation is Here

by Cody Mitchell

Just when we were getting used to there being a generation after Gen Z, a new one has been announced. Here are the unique characteristics of this cohort, according to the Australian demographic research group, McCrindle.

Step aside, Gen Alpha; there is a new generation in town!

The year 2025 marks the start of a brand-new age group, with those born after 2025 less-than-creatively dubbed ‘Generation Beta’ by respected Australian consulting agency McCrindle Research.

McCrindle—whose founder Mark McCrindle is also widely credited with naming ‘Generation Alpha’ in 2008—has released a short article welcoming the young ones and outlining some of the group’s defining features.

So, who are the new kids on the block (literally)?

Generation Beta: Who Are They?

Betas are the kids of younger Generation Ys (also known as Millennials—born 1980–1994) and older Zoomers (Generation Z—born 1995–2009).

Beta follows hard on the heels of Gen Alpha (‘digital natives,’ born 2010–2024).

Those born between 2025 and 2039 will fall into ‘Beta’—and McCrindle notes that many of them will live to see the 22nd century.

In just a decade’s time, they will make up around 16 per cent of the world’s population (Zoomers comprise roughly a third of the global population today).

McCrindle explains that they named the two most recent cohorts ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta,’ not just to signify new generations.

They wanted to identify something much more fundamental: namely, that these groups are ‘the first generations to be ‘shaped by an entirely different world’.

And the defining feature of this Brave New World is digital technology—especially the rise of artificial intelligence and advanced automation.

McCrindle explains:

‘At McCrindle, we know that generational transitions are more than just chronological—they are defined by the events, technologies, and cultural shifts of their time. Generation Beta represents a pivotal chapter in our evolving world.’

Alpha and Beta are the first generations to grow up in this new, hyper-digital, technologically connected world—and this experience will unavoidably shape their outlook, worldview and characteristics.

So, what should we expect from Beta?

What to Expect from the Young Ones

McCrindle identifies a few major characteristics of the world into which Generation Beta will step—and how that will shape them.

Firstly, it will be a world characterised by a seamless interface between digital technology and human interaction.

‘While Generation Alpha has experienced the rise of smart technology and artificial intelligence, Generation Beta will live in an era where AI and automation are fully embedded in everyday life—from education and workplaces to healthcare and entertainment.’

The key difference between Zoomers’ experience of technology and Betas’ is that while the former knew a time before the AI revolution, Betas will be raised in a fully AI-integrated world.

Interestingly, though, McCrindle notes that Zoomer parents ‘are more likely to strongly agree that limiting their child’s screen time is a high priority for them’ than their Millennial counterparts.

‘As the most technologically savvy generation of parents, Gen Z see the benefits of technology and screen time, but equally they see the downsides of it and are pushing back on technology and the age at which their children access and engage with it.’

This will add an interesting dynamic to Gen Beta’s upbringing. Will they be protected from some of the more damaging impacts of early exposure to digital technologies?

Secondly, Gen Beta will be raised in a world of upheaval—dealing with pressing environmental, geopolitical and technological challenges. According to McCrindle, this will likely lead to a more collaborative, globally minded and community-focused generation:

‘Their upbringing will emphasise the importance of innovation not just for convenience, but for solving the pressing challenges of their time.’

This interpretation appears naively optimistic—given plummeting levels of trust in democracy and an increasing sense of disillusionment with conventional political institutions and mechanisms among youth in recent years.

Finally, however, social relationships will look different for Generation Beta than it has for previous generations—functioning in a world where digital is the default mode of interaction.

However, rather than becoming digitally isolated and increasingly lonely, McCrindle predicts that driven by their tech-aware parents, Beta will manage to approach online engagement in a balanced manner, with ‘safety and wisdom’.

Of course, all of this is, to some extent, educated speculation.

As of today, Generation Beta is between one day and three months old. How the world will evolve—technologically, environmentally and geopolitically—remains to be seen.

Trends for ‘older’ young generations—whether around disillusionment, democratic participation, mental health, or loneliness—paint a more pessimistic picture.

Can Alpha and Beta reverse this and revive a more optimistic vision of our future?