A generation is a group of people born within the same timeframe in history, usually spanning about 15 to 20 years. It’s also sometimes called a birth cohort.
Grouping people into generations gives us a way to understand them better. People are often influenced by the period in history into which they were born as well as by the peers that grew up alongside them, sharing in similar experiences. Generations are also a shorthand way of identifying where someone is in their lifecycle.
The Silent Generation
Gen X Birth Years: 1928 to 1945
The silent generation famously got their name for being so conformist that they were silent through the MacCarthy era when the fear of Communism swept the country.
During this era, kids were expected to earn their way through life using a strong work ethic.
Baby Boom Generation
Gen X Birth Years: 1946 to 1964
Gen Z may think of Baby Boomers as their out-of-touch grandparents (as in “OK, Boomer”), but this generation actually had a wild youth we often don’t talk about. Boomers are named for the population “boom” that occurred after WWII and many young people of this generation defied their parents, protested the Vietnam War, and created the “Summer of Love.”
Generation X
Gen X still reads newspapers, magazines, listens to the radio, and watches TV . However, they are also digitally savvy and spend some imprted hour in a week on Facebook.
- Gen X Birth Years: 1965 to 1979/80
- Other Nicknames: ”Latchkey” generation, MTV generation
Generation Y or Millennials
This generation originally included people who came of age at the turn of the new Millennium, although the term is sometimes misused to refer to those born from 2000 onward.
The term Millennial was introduced by American sociologists William Strauss and Neill Howe, authors of several books on the subject of generations.
The current boundary with Generation Z is generally based on a Pew Research Center definition. Having grown up in the digital age, Millennials have a highly integrated approach to technology.
They have experienced firsthand the waves of economic recession that have come since the end of the first decade of this century (or millennium) and have developed more of a need for a work-life balance than their predecessors.
Gen Y Birth Years: 1980 to 1996
Other Nicknames:Gen Y, Gen Me, Gen We, Echo Boomers
Generation Z
Gen Z (sometimes called zoomers) grew up with technology and screens at their fingertips, and they’ve learned to use it to their advantage in their careers and relationships. They’re known for being collaborative and self-motivated, with more awareness of politics, social issues and mental health than some other generations.
Major historical events of their childhoods include the election of Barack Obama as the first Black president, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Generation Alpha Birth Years: 1997 to 2012,
Other Nicknames: iGeneration, Post-millennials, Homeland Generation
Generation Alpha
Media Consumption: Members of Gen A are being raised in homes with smart speakers and devices everywhere; technology is built into everyday items. Many of them attended school virtually thanks to the global pandemic and are gravitating toward online learning with programs such as Khan Academy, Prodigy, and IXL.Many have even had a digital presence since before they were born, with their Millennial parents creating social media handles for their infants.
- Generation Alpha Birth Years: 2012 to 2024
- Other Nicknames: Generation Glass, iPad Kids, Mini Millennials, Honey Badgers