A lot of people love to say that Gen Alpha is so hopeless. All of their trends are too new, too energetic, too chaotic, too brainrotted. So what were the best parts of our generation’s childhood? What separates our childhood from that of our parents, or our little siblings?? Well, let’s look at one example, one symbol, of the gradual change in the childhoods of us kids. The shows we watched growing up, and the means of our entertainment provided a symbol of the kinds of media we were exposed to, and what the norm was for kid’s shows at that time.
When I was a kid, I watched shows like “Curious George,” “Sesame Street,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Max and Ruby,” and “Peter Rabbit.” I am happy to say that some of these shows are still active and popular. Initially, I thought that a lot of my favorites weren’t watched anymore by kids, but after doing some research, I found something reassuring. It seems like my fears were unfounded. At least among kid shows, many kids still watch classic shows like those mentioned above, the biggest difference is that the main method of viewing has been digital platforms like YouTube, apps, and websites. The main problem is that these entertainment sites, like YouTube, are filled with endless distractions that pull user’s attention away from any one particular thing. Overall, the education based series that once ruled PBS Kids are no longer as important to children.
So what are they doing to entertain themselves instead? Is this better in any way, or if not, why is this the new norm?
As of 2026, short form media like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels have almost completely replaced episodic related media in what kids are actually watching. New trend? It started on TikTok. Instead of watching shows that teach kids to be curious about the world, or about reading, they’re watching 20 second videos about the most random things you could possibly imagine. In fact, you all know what I’m talking about; everyone scrolls, and has seen this type of content. It is the most wasteful use of our time.
But what do Broad Run Students think of this? One student, senior Angel Frias says “The way it affected people is hard to describe… but it definitely affected people.” when asked what he thought about the shift away from educational kids shows to short form media as a form of entertainment. “They’re (kid’s attention spans) are definitely getting lower, so they’re watching brainrot and TikTok… It’s definitely a real thing.” Most people are indeed aware of this, but how to fix this remains unknown. Mrs. Ivory, one of the Broad Run librarians, said “Kids are on their phones and Ipads now, and we don’t know what the content that they are consuming is.”
Overall, the solution lies in the parents. “With little kids, it has to do with what their parents are allowing them to consume… Around 15 years ago, kids would watch like PBS Kids, now I see them on phones while they’ll be out eating with their families.” The parents need to be getting information about what their kids are watching, and how that is actually affecting them. I know I shouldn’t be judging how parents raise their kids, it’s such a hard job, and already way too underappreciated. However, the same way a lot of parents banned shows like Spongebob, we need to be showing them what short form media does to their kid’s brains. Parents are the only ones who can really control what their kids consume!!!
