Being part of a generation can make or break you sometimes. Do you want to be part of the avocado on toast millennial scene or the technologically advanced Gen Z, or even the TikTok trendsetters in Gen Alpha? Dates between each have varied for decades, so which generation are you actually part of?
Alpha, 2010-2024
The newest generation in our society have been named as Generation Alpha. They are the first generation to have been brought up in the fully fledged technological world that we see now. Many people in Alpha have been brought up with a screen in front of them, so we will have to wait to see what kind of impact this has on them? Does it allow them to learn quicker or hinder their social skills?
With this, however, these people have learnt to understand the technological world much quicker than any generation before them. So, while they may be younger, the children in this group will be much more fluent on their phones and laptops than millennials and Gen X people.
Gen Z, 1997-2012
Pew Research Centre stated that people born after 1997 are ‘post-millennials’ and, as such, are part of Generation Z. These were the first generation of children to grow up with the internet and digital technology, meaning that they are well-versed in the technological world.
However, there has been a notable increase in sleep deprivation in Gen Z people, which is thought to be sue to internet and online gaming access.
It is thought that this generation move slower than previous generations, with less of a push to get married and have children as quickly as their parents.
Millennials, 1981-1996
Sometimes referred to as Generation Y, Millennials are people who were born into the early world of technology. They are more competent in the world of technology than their parents in Generation X or the Baby Boomer era, but not as fluent as those in Generation Z.
It is thought that millennials are the first generation to be truly conscious of the issues surrounding climate change and make efforts to change the problems that are perpetuating this. They also have the stereotype attached to them that they are slightly more lazy than their work-hard parents and are more likely to ‘job-hop’.
Gen X, 1965-1980
The Independent labels Gen X as the ‘work-hard, play-hard’ generation who have a strong work ethic, moreso than their latter generations.
These people grew up in a time of unsupervised play, where they could engage in much more social interaction than occurs now, making them well-versed in social cues and talking to people.
This generation were savvy to some of the first breakthroughs in technology from the rise of the early internet to home computers.
Baby Boomers, 1946-1964
The true time period spanning baby boomers is disputed, with the Pew Research Centre saying 1946-1964 and Landon Jones arguing that it falls between 1943-1960. Baby boomers are called as such because of the notable increase in births following the end of World War II.
This time period saw many children getting jobs at a young age, which garnered a strong work ethic in baby boomers. There was also a distinct lack of supervision needed for children, so many of these people are very independent as they grew up establishing themselves.
The Silent Generation, 1926-1945
The people in this generation are part of the oldest group alive right now. During their upbringing, they were under the notion of ‘be seen not heard’, garnering them the title of the silent generation.
They began life in a politically unstable time with traditional values. As the years have gone on, it seems that life and society as it is now is the most unrecognisable to those in this generation.