The year 2025 marks more than just another turn of the calendar, it signals the arrival of a new generation, Generation Beta, and students of Washburn University shared their predictions for the next generation.

Lauryn Grospitch, junior psychology major, talked about how she is hopeful that the next generation will change the world but is concerned that the new generation will turn out ignorant.

“I’m hopeful that they’ll bring a lot of change to this world and give everyone a new perspective on life. But it could also go down really quickly,” Grospitch said. “With how each day is going, it could create some really cool people and make a really positive change or create people who could not learn about important events and it could be really negative.”

Jaelyn Stallons, sophomore radiologic technology major, is concerned with the intelligence level of the new generation decreasing based on how people are becoming more reliant on technology.

“I feel that we will get a lot smarter, but also a lot dumber. We’re becoming a lot more reliant on technology nowadays, so we’re losing a lot of those hands-on skills, especially with the newer generations,” Stallons said. “There is not a lot of research nowadays, or going into books or anything like that. Nine times out of 10, if you ask any kid here about some sort of politics, they wouldn’t know about it. So it’s already happening now and it’s going to get worse, here to come.”

Josiah Hefty, freshman English major, added to the technology topic by mentioning his concern about how Gen Beta will not be as sociable due to technology.

“Technology allows you to stay in the same place and not have to go out as much to do things, so socializing might not come as easily for them because it’s something that they won’t do very much,” Hefty said.

According to The Center For General Kinetics, researcher Jason Dorsey had similar predictions when it came to technology. For example, Gen Beta will not remember a time before AI, and AI will in turn play a big part in their lives. The website Parents also talks about AI in the lives of Gen Beta, and how it can be beneficial and harmful for children. They mention that access to AI technology can help the children who are part of Gen Beta change the world in positive ways, but Michelle Beaupre, PhD, talks about why parents should be cautious.

“Generation Beta kids could become distant from their parents and friends and may be likely to replace real-life connections with virtual reality characters and creatures,” Beaupre said.

There are many predictions for Gen Beta. While some predictions may be positive and exciting for the new generation, there are some that are cautious and concerned about it.

Edited by Jeremy Ford and Stuti Khadka