generations
Last updatedWhat to know
“Generation” describes a cohort of people born within a specific time range. The Pew Research Center’s guidance is useful, as it has provided the clearest and most consistent descriptions of the age range for various generations: Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, Generation X are between 1965-1980, millennials are 1981-1996, Generation Z are 1997-2009, and Generation Alpha are for 2010 and after.
Birth year is not the only determining factor for generations; in familial contexts these titles usually play no role. Sometimes overgeneralizing about a generation can result in ageist stereotypes — for instance, portraying baby boomers as less tech-savvy than younger people.
Additional resources
- The myth of generations, debunked (Popular Science)
Summary
“Generation” describes a cohort of people born within a specific time range. Birth year is not the only determining factor for generations; in familial contexts these titles usually play no role. Sometimes overgeneralizing about a generation can result in ageist stereotypes — for instance, portraying baby boomers as less tech-savvy than younger people.