09/15/2026
5 things you should know about Gen Alpha ๐
1๏ธโฃ Gen Alpha is officially here (and growing up fast) ๐ฑ
Born 2010 and later, the oldest members of Gen Alpha turn 16 in 2026, and theyโre the first generation to come of age entirely in a post-pandemic world.
2๏ธโฃ The pandemic still shapes them, even if they donโt talk about it ๐ค 75% of teens say they hardly ever talk about the pandemic anymore, yet just over half say it still affects them regularly.
3๏ธโฃ Theyโre asking for a trusted adult ๐ 40% of teens say having a mentor, guide, or elder they can talk to regularly would help them grow in their faith.
4๏ธโฃ They crave adults who wonโt judge them ๐ซ๐ When asked what makes an adult trustworthy, teens ranked: listening without judging first, respecting their views even in disagreement second, and following through on what they say third.
5๏ธโฃ Most are more spiritually open than we might assume โ๏ธ
Only 12% of teens say theyโre not interested in faith or religion at all, and over half of nonreligious young people may still be open to faith.
๐ Source: Fuller Youth Institute, 2026
This is exactly why we exist. At Tacoma YFC, we show up as the trusted, non-judgmental adults these students are asking for, on campuses, with teen parents, and inside our juvenile justice ministry, meeting real needs first so trust can open the door to faith. ๐
