I never interact with teens. For the first time in a while I was at an event and tried to make small talk with a couple of kids who were around 14. I know the dad to one kid, dad is gregarious and above average socially. They really were the stereotype of couldn't make eye contact, short answers and just generally as awkward as "the one awkward kid" when I went to school. After I gave up I kept an eye on them and didn't see them talk to anyone else the entire afternoon.

Of course it's possible they are the bottom decile socially, but Christ... maybe phones and social media really have fried their brains during their key developmental years. Also I refuse to call them "Gen Alpha", there's nothing alpha about them. It's hard to change names once they're set but I find it hard to believe a less flattering name won't stick to them.