The assassination of Charlie Kirk rocked so many because it is the first time in a generation that a national figure was violently and publicly silenced. Older generations liken the feeling of loss to what they experienced after President John F. Kennedy was gunned down in Dallas. However, most Americans were too young or not even born when that occurred.

The idea of quieting opposing voices has been around since biblical times. However, we are seeing an uptick in political violence and murders specifically. This seems like a new phenomenon. Is it really about name-calling by political figures being amplified by the media or is there something more? What happened in our society that normalized this kind of violence? Where do we go from here?

We are now seeing many activists in the younger Millennial and Gen Z generations (20’s to early 30’s) taking matters into their own hands, using violence to argue, rather than logic and dialogue. With a few exceptions, most of the high profile murders (or attempted murders) over the last year were committed by men in this age range. Below are a few:

• 9/10/25: Charlie Kirk’s killer: 22
• 6/14/25: Minnesota lawmaker killer: 57
• 5/21/25: Embassy staffers in D.C. killer: 31
• 12/4/24: United Healthcare CEO killer: 26
• 7/13/24: Donald Trump’s shooter in Butler, PA: 20

In the late 1990’s and 2000’s many children were diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The go-to medication prescribed to them was Adderall, a salt and amphetamine compound, which was deemed highly effective. As a result, over the last two decades prescriptions have skyrocketed, especially in children and young adults. The male brain is not fully developed until about the age of 30. Did doctors really believe that providing a stimulant to children going through puberty would have no impact on their brain development?

Now, a recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed that those taking high doses of the drug Adderall are 5.28 times more like to suffer psychosis and mania. According to this article on addictioncenter.com, therapy has been found to be an “effective alternative” to medication for our youth. Rather than using a more holistic approach with therapy or changes in diet to treat ADD or ADHD, doctors provided parents with the easy answer – take a pill. Are we now seeing the ramifications in society of taking the easy path?

As the Millennial and Gen Z children matured so did their use of technology and social media. From the normalization of violence in online gaming to social media’s freeing influence, the significance of technology on these generations cannot be overstated. Many in their 20’s find it much easier to “socialize” in group text chats rather than to have face to face conversations. The feeling of anonymity while engaging in commentary on social media threads has emboldened many to say what they think or feel without considering the consequences of those comments. One result? Cyberbullying. Picking on the shy or studious kid became a lot easier. As this article from Ethos Treatment indicates, public shaming and rumor spreading can have devastating effects. And, these generations are well versed in the impacts.

Has social media acted as a training ground for activists? How is it impacting the next generation – Generation Alpha, which includes children up to age 12? That is what we need to consider.

In a recent Broad + Liberty article, author Beth Ann Rosica discusses the problem of teacher attrition in Pennsylvania. She indicates that “students’ attention spans have shrunk to six seconds as a result of increased technology and social media usage.” That certainly answers our question about any technology consequences on the Alphas! Yet, many curricula require students to use laptops, online engagement and online study materials/books rather than traditional books and paper/pen.

In addition, in a recent survey 52% of teachers indicated that managing student behavior is a major stressor for them in the classrooms. In fact, Rosica writes that “in recent years, more significant concerns have emerged about violent behavior in schools and teachers’ personal safety.” In a national educator survey, 77% of the respondents believe that school safety impacts teacher retention. Putting aside the correlation between teacher retention and student academic success, if teachers feel unsafe then students must also feel unsafe which makes it difficult to learn. By whom do they feel threatened? Other students, obviously.

So, the Alpha generation faces increased learning deficits because of the influence of technology, yet more technology is being used in the classroom. And, these children are more violent in social settings such as school. What are the consequences to the offenders of this misbehavior? Is meaningful punishment being administered from which students can learn hard lessons? We must demand better!

As the Constitutional Convention ended in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked if the delegates produced a monarchy or a republic. Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

We are trying to keep this republic that we love and hold our representatives accountable to the people. Join us in that mission and share this Update with your contacts!