Gen Z vs Gen Alpha: two generations, two relationships with social media.

There's one thing we often hear: "all young people are the same." But not quite. Between Gen Z, who discovered social media in adolescence, and Gen Alpha, who were born into it, the difference runs deeper. Between 2000 and 2010, we had Disney Channel, tailored programs, Justin Bieber with his swoop haircut, and above all, content designed for that target audience. Gen Z grew up in a distinct pre-teen bubble, with its magazines, shows, and codes, and social media normalization arrived a bit later. As a result, Gen Z has a critical awareness of platforms that Gen Alpha simply hasn't had time to develop.

67% of 8-10 year olds were already on social media in 2023. Not to "become influencers," but simply because that's where things happen, and no one really closed the door on them. Gen Alpha pre-teens haven't experienced a pre-teen culture: teen magazines have disappeared, dedicated TV programs too, and by the end of 2025, Teen Vogue will be absorbed into Vogue. What's in its place? A feed that can be identical to that of someone in their twenties, TikTok makeup tutorials, 6-step skincare routines, accompanied by the rise of Sephora kids.

Studies also show that early exposure to social media causes a decline in certain cognitive functions.

And beyond development, what's striking is the disappearance of this undefined phase between childhood and adolescence that no one — neither platforms, nor brands, nor media — wanted to preserve. The National Assembly finally legislated in January 2026 with a law prohibiting access to social media for those under 15.

Two generations, two trust relationships to redefine. On one hand, Gen Z has an infallible bullshit detector: they only engage with authenticity. On the other, Gen Alpha demands a more educational and structured approach. Born into a feed, this ultra-stimulated generation has simply never known an algorithm-free news feed and may not be able to recognize failures and opportunists.