Gen Alpha: Birth Years, Traits & Gen Z Differences

If you’ve heard the term “Gen Alpha” but aren’t sure where it begins or what makes this group tick, you’re not alone. As the oldest members turn 15 in 2025, researchers are piecing together a clearer picture of the first generation born entirely in the 21st century.

Born between: 2010 and 2024 ·
Weekly births: 2.8 million ·
Naming origin: Greek letter alpha, first in alphabet ·
Oldest members in 2025: 15 years old

Five defining attributes of Generation Alpha, drawn from the latest research:

The pattern: Gen Alpha is the first cohort to be both fully 21st-century and fully digital, making them a demographic outlier unlike any before.

Is 2010 Gen Z or Gen Alpha?

What are the birth years for Gen Z and Gen Alpha?

• Gen Z: Pew Research Center (nonpartisan research) defines anyone born from 1997 onward as Generation Z. GWI (consumer insights firm) narrows the window to 1997–2012.
• Gen Alpha: McCrindle (social research consultancy) and Britannica (encyclopedia) set the start at 2010, with an end around 2024–2025.

So a child born in 2010 is Generation Alpha, not Gen Z, according to the most widely cited definitions. The 2010 boundary marks the first year of a generation that has never known a world without smartphones.

Why this matters: Confusion around the year 2010 creates mislabeling in marketing, education, and policy. Knowing the correct cohort helps tailor communication to the right age group.

What age is a Gen Alpha?

What are the Gen Alpha years?

• Born 2010–2024 (McCrindle definition).
• Age range in 2025: 0–15 years old.
• Oldest members are 15 as of 2025 (Springtide Research Institute (youth research organization)).

When does Gen Alpha start?

Gen Alpha starts in 2010. A baby born on January 1, 2010, is the first member of this generation. This is consistent across McCrindle (social research consultancy), Britannica (encyclopedia), and most demographic analyses.

The implication: Anyone currently under 16 (as of 2025) belongs to Gen Alpha, not Gen Z. Marketers and educators should adjust their age brackets accordingly.

Who is Gen Beta?

What is after Gen Alpha?

• Gen Beta is the proposed generation after Alpha, expected to start around 2025 (McCrindle (social research consultancy)).
• The term was coined by Mark McCrindle as part of his generational naming system (Greek alphabet).

Gen Beta will likely be even more integrated with AI, smart environments, and digital ecosystems from birth. Researchers predict their defining traits will revolve around hyper-connectivity and climate adaptation.

The catch: The Beta label is not yet universally accepted. Some demographers argue that generational boundaries should be based on historical events rather than fixed years.

What gen is a 13 year old?

Is a 13 year old a Gen Z?

• A 13-year-old in 2025 (born in 2012) is Gen Alpha.
• A 13-year-old in 2023 (born in 2010) was also Gen Alpha.
• 13-year-olds represent the oldest edge of Gen Alpha – they are the ones entering teenagehood as digital natives (Springtide Research Institute (youth research organization)).

So no, a 13-year-old is not Gen Z. They are the first wave of Generation Alpha, carrying distinct behaviors shaped entirely by post-2010 technology.

The pattern: As these teens grow, they will be the first to have had smartphones, social media, and AI assistants present from their earliest memories – a radical shift from even the youngest Gen Zers.

Was there a Gen C?

What is gen C called?

• “Gen C” is not a widely accepted generational label.
• It has been used informally as shorthand for “Generation Coronavirus” – a term referring to children born or raised during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• No major research body (Pew, McCrindle, U.S. Census) officially recognizes Gen C as a demographic cohort.

If you hear “Gen C,” it’s likely a colloquial reference to pandemic-era kids, not a formal generation. Stick with the Alpha/Beta naming for clarity.

Why this matters: Using non-standard labels can confuse audiences. For accurate data comparability, it’s best to rely on established generational definitions.

Gen Z vs Gen Alpha: A comparison

Three key differences that separate the two youngest generations:

The trade-off: Gen Z saw the internet become mainstream; Gen Alpha is the first to take it for granted. That distinction reshapes everything from education to marketing.

Timeline of generational definitions

A chronology of how the modern generation map developed:

What this means: Generational boundaries are moving targets. The shift from Z to Alpha happens roughly around 2010, but researchers may adjust as more data emerges.

“The oldest members of Generation Alpha, born in 2010 or after, are entering their teenage years as digital natives – and they face screen time worries that are unprecedented for any prior generation.”

— Springtide Research Institute (youth research organization)

“Generation Alpha are the first cohort to be born entirely in the 21st century, making them the most formally educated and technology-supplied generation in history.”

— Mark McCrindle, social researcher (McCrindle Research)

For parents and educators, the choice is clear: guide Gen Alpha through a hyperconnected world with intentional boundaries and human-centered values, or risk raising a generation that knows every app but struggles with face-to-face connection.

Frequently asked questions