There has been much discussion and research on the Millennial generation. But who exactly is a Millennial? What about Gen Xers? And what will be the official moniker for the Post-Millennials?
After studying Millennials for over a decade (it feels like even longer!), Pew Research Center updated its generational guidelines to help pinpoint exactly where we all belong, based on birth year.
Here’s your definitive answer… for now, at least according to Pew:
- The Silent Generation: Born 1928-1945 (73-90 years old).
- Baby Boomers: Born 1946-1964 (54-72 years old).
- Generation X: Born 1965-1980 (38-53 years old).
- Millennials: Born 1981-1996 (22-37 years old).
- Post-Millennials: Born 1997-Present (0-21 years old).
Pew Research Center President Michael Dimock wrote, “Generations provide the opportunity to look at Americans both by their place in the life cycle—whether a young adult, a middle-aged parent or a retiree—and by their membership in a cohort of individuals who were born at a similar time.”
Pew Research Center defends its 1996 Millennial generation cutoff based on political, economic and social factors that define one’s formative years. The two things that most shaped Millennials?
According to Pew, it’s the 9/11 terrorist attacks and technological advancements.
“Most Millennials were between the ages of 5 and 20 when the 9/11 terrorist attacks shook the nation, and many were old enough to comprehend the historical significance of that moment, while most Post-Millennials have little or no memory of the event,” Dimock said. “Technology, in particular the rapid evolution of how people communicate and interact, is another generation-shaping consideration.
“Baby Boomers grew up as television expanded dramatically, changing their lifestyles and connection to the world in fundamental ways,” Dimock added. “Generation X grew up as the computer revolution was taking hold, and Millennials came of age during the internet explosion.”
Pew Research Center’s definition of Millennials is a 16-year span, the same as its predecessor Generation X, while the Baby Boomer generation, the only one officially designated by the U.S. Census Bureau, has a longer 19-year span. Maybe it’s safe to blame computers for shortening the spans?
And what about those born after 1996? In January 2018, the New York Times asked its readers to weigh in on new names for this group that is often referred to as Post-Millennial or Generation Z.
“Don’t call us anything,” said Kiernan Majerus-Collins, a 22-year old chairman of the Democratic Party in Lewiston, Maine. “The whole notion of cohesive generations is nonsense.”
Well actually Kiernan, based on your age, you’re a Millennial.
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