What Is Generation Y?

This is a very interesting subject, I am a baby boomer born before 1960. I am never surprised by the total stupidity of the gen x.y.z or whatever you want to call them. These social justice warriors and you-tubers have little insight to the future. I can actually live without a computer or cell phone. I actually make things and work and save. I do not believe in credit and debt, because I see the effects that represent modern slavery to debt. This is lost on the newer generation. Over 60 percent of younger people have no long term plan or even 5 year plan for their welfare. How are you going to change the world for a better future if you refuse to even care about your personal future?

I see that most are really smart, however they have little or no real world skills. They don't know how to even fix a faucet or change a flat tire. I am blue collar and make bank off these morons, doing jobs they refuse to do. So while they are wasting time on face-book and you-tube, I am having a cold beer and cigar on my new boat enjoying life.

It's amazing to my friends and I and we discuss this on a regular basis, usually end up laughing.

I was born in 1995 in Belgium, and we Europeans don't use the generation classification terms that you Americans use. Same with how we don't use the ridiculous Imperial measuring system, consider the ground floor of a building to be "the 1st floor", or write our dates as month/day/year.

Born in 1996. I'm a Gen Y / Millennial. Some might argue that I'm Gen Z but I've always been told during K-12 school, college, and in society that I'm part of Generation Y. It wasn't until recently that I've heard about the new Gen Z.

Apparently, some definitions put 1996 into the Gen Z category stating that the Millennial Generation ended in the mid-'90s in 1995 where in reality, the mid-'90s span from 1994-1996. Additionally, many articles online published in 2014 say that the Millennial Generation ends in 1996. I'm sure that next year in 2015 they're going to push the end year to 1997 and so on until they finally decide when to stop. There are just so many definitions of Gen Y / Millennials.

For example, the Pew Research Center states that the Millennials range from 1981-1996. Others say 1980-1999. The White House now even has its own definition from 1980-2004. So all to say that Gen Y is from the early '80s to around the year 2000.

I'm sure that being born in 1996 I would have different experiences than one born in the early '80s, yet I will also say that somebody born in the late 2000s or 2010s will have drastically different experiences than I do. Time definitely plays a role in defining the experience but family and how one was raised is also important. The way I remember things are frozen in time.

For example, I remember dial up internet, floppy disks, VCR, audio cassette tapes, the 9/11 attacks, etc. I know my experiences may be different than someone else's experiences who remembered those things as a college student. In the same way, the experiences I have now as a college student of 2014 will be different than that of a kindergartner of 2014. Which experience is more similar to mine? Moreover, the argument that Gen Y ends in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, or 2001, etc. won't really matter 50 years down the road. A year or two won't really make a "day and night" difference--it's a gradual change.

Okay, for all you debating about who wouldn't and who would remember 9/11, let me clear this up, here's an accurate chart.

Born 1991 and before: If American, Canadian, or West European, you would've remembered 9/11 completely from an adult's POV, and it would've impacted you and you'd still vividly remember it to this day.

Born 1992-1993: You'd still remember 9/11 very well, but you would've still been a little naive when it happened. It still would've definitely affected you, but not as much as those born in 1991 and before.

Born 1994-1995: This is where the 9/11 influences are really starting to show a lot less. The chances that you'd remember 9/11 are still probable, but it wouldn't have affected you too much, as you would've still been very young at the time.

Born 1996-1997: Now we're in the improbable zone. The chances of you remembering 9/11 are pretty unlikely, and you wouldn't have been affected by it at all. You would've been too young to be affected by political events.

Born 1998-1999: The chances of you remembering it are super improbable, and even if you are lucky enough to remember it, your memories of it would've been extremely vague, and there's no way it would've affected you at all.

Born 2000-2001: It's literally impossible for you to remember the event at all, your brain would've still been just as aware of the world as it was when you were in the womb. But at least you were there when the event happened, I'll give you that.

Born 2002+ = The absolute post-9/11 generation, why? Because they weren't even alive when 9/11 happened, and war has been happening in the Middle East since before they were born as well.

Born in 1994 here. I've been studying Gen Y terminology for quite a while, and eventually came to a conclusion that 1998 is a good cutoff for the American terminology of Gen Y, for two reasons.

A) Childhood for most people starts at the age of 2¾ or 3, so those born in 1998 would've been the last to be kids when 9/11 occurred, while those born in 1999-2001 were still infants when that happened.

B) The next US presidential election is in 2016, and those born in 1995-1998 will be turning 18-21 in that year, so they'll be the last to be able to vote in a US presidential election before 2020. Those born in 1999-2002 won't be able to vote in a presidential election until 2020.

However, I only think that those born in 1995-1998 are the last in Gen Y as a whole.

I think that the last in the core of Gen Y are those born in my year of 1994. When 9/11 happened, those of us who were born in 1994 were seven years old, or at least 6¾, and able to understand it from an adult's point of view. Those born in 1995 on the other hand were only 6 or maybe even 5¾, and most kids don't understand stuff that well at that age.

Also, we were able to vote for Obama, the first black president, in 2012, and Obama won't be running again in 2016, because of the 22nd amendment. Those of us born in 1991-1994 were the new voters in 2012.

So in my conclusion, Gen Y as a whole is the generation of those born in 1979-1998, but the core of that generation are those who were born in 1983-1994.

That's just my conclusion on this topic. Hopefully, you all can respect it.

(Notice I said "conclusion", not "opinion". The word "opinion" doesn't work in this topic.)

*reads* oh for God's sake, people. Here's an accurate generation classification.

Boomers = 1946-1960

Gen Jones = 1961-1966

Gen X = 1967-1981

Gen Y = 1982-1993

Net Gen = 1994-2001

Gen Z = 2002+

I'm a Gen Y-er (b. 1987) and I think I'm pretty typical of my generation. I consider myself open-minded and I question traditional values; I don't accept anything "just because".

I'm not religious, I don't plan to get married or have kids and I don't like the petty way politics is conducted. I care about sustainability and preserving the environment and believe that should be my country's (Australia) number 1 priority, along with reducing income inequality and alleviating global issues such as poverty and preventable disease.

I get so frustrated when our politicians talk about growth, growth, growth, have more babies, make more money, grow the economy. For how much longer? The world's population is heading for 10 billion and climate change is now undeniably our biggest threat. Yet politicians still talk as though "not enough money" is our biggest problem - in one of the most prosperous countries in the world. The political discussion constantly revolves around how to make more money from mining, dredging our reef, and burning dirty fossil fuels.

My generation grew up with the consequences of the baby boomers' consumerism and greed - the 2007/8 financial crisis, the exploitation of poor countries for cheap labor, and the destruction of the only planet we'll ever have. I think Gen X shares similar values and when the boomers are gone, the agenda will look very different.

We are not some apathetic pack of mindless drones glued to our phones and video games, although we do use technology, sometimes to excess. But never forget that technology is also what makes us feel connected to every other person on the planet and gives us our strong global conscience -- something I don't feel the current generation of leaders has. My generation cares, just not about money.

Born in '93, can't resist chiming in here. I'd say that the true range for Gen Y is 1982-1995. From 1996-1998 I'd say is more of a transitional Gen, and 1999+ is what I'd call Gen Z.

@anon944012: I don't see anyone arguing your point on here, so why are you posting over and over? It's pretty obvious that you've posted about nine times on this forum and no one has argued with you at all.

I mean, keep posting if that's how you need to vent or whatever, but you must care a heck of a lot about the years for Gen Y (when you already said it doesn't matter and no one cares), with all the posting you've been doing. Doesn't look like anyone is going to change the article because of your posts, though. But do what you've got to do to. I personally think you've made your point, but that's just me. I don't care about Gen Y years, period. I've got better things to do with my time. Maybe you could start a blog or something about the differences. It's free.

Gen Z grows up with smartphones, tablets, Blu-Ray, Netflix movie streaming, Video Games with DLC, 1080p TVs, etc.

Nobody born in any duration of the 90s grew up with any of that, they would've been in the late part of elementary or already in middle school when they were just being introduced, and would've grown up with them in middle and high school and college, not in elementary.

'96ers, '97ers, and '98ers still grew up in an era of Nokia cellphones, when cellphones didn't have any of those fancy apps on them.

Most '96-'98ers also grew up with VHS, though also would've grown up with DVD, they would've been trying to get the DVD version of their VHS movies.

Also, they would've grown up in the late PS1/N64 era to the PS2/GC/XB era. Many of them remember renting N64 video games from video stores, or buying PS1 games at their local game store.

Also, they would've grown up with AOL Dial Up internet on Windows 98 and Windows XP, and wouldn't have gotten broadband until the mid 00s, even after that, their PC would've been a Windows XP, they wouldn't have gotten a Vista/7 until around the time they were already in middle school.

They also would've grown up with big-backed low definition TVs, and wouldn't have gotten those flatscreens until sometime in the second half of the 00s.

They also would remember when cars had a cassette player in them, and didn't have anything to plug an iPod into, unlike the cars we have now.

They were in school (preschool, pre-k, kindergarten) before 9/11 happened, it depends whether or not they would've remembered it, they definitely would if they lived in New York, probably wouldn't if they lived somewhere west, but they were still in school before 9/11 happened.

Lastly, they were still born in the second millennium, and their birth years still start with a "1". That will matter 20 years from now.

All these differences '96-'98ers have from real Gen Z'ers (2002+ borns), and you guys still think that Gen Z begins 1996, 1997, or 1998. I hope this post changes your minds. If not, then you guys are ignorant about what makes you in Gen Y or Z. There's no way in hell '98ers can group in with '02ers. Hell, '98ers group more in with '94ers than '02ers.

Older Gen Y'ers are from 1982-1986, Core Gen Y'ers are from 1987-1993, Younger Gen Y'ers are from 1994-1998, a Gen Y/Z Cusp is from 1999-2001, and a Full Gen Z'er is 2002+.

Gen Z starts at 2002, not in anywhere in the 90s, conclusion.

What normal person has a baby at 20?

All you people saying Gen Z starts at 1996, 1997, 1998, whatever... guess what? There's a huge difference between how those born in 1996-1999 grew up and how those born in 2002 and after grew up.

1996-1999ers grew up with AOL dial up internet until they were older kids, and grew up with Windows 98 and Windows XP. 2002-2005ers grew up completely with broadband, and grew up more during the Windows Vista/7 era than the Windows XP era.

1996-1999ers grew up during the VHS/DVD era of movie format, while 2002-2005ers grew up during the DVD/Blu-Ray era.

1996-1999ers were either older kids or younger adolescents (8-13) when smartphones and tablets were just being introduced, and would've been in middle or high school when they started taking over, while 2002-2005ers were little kids or toddlers when smartphones and tablets were just being introduced, and they would've grown up with them.

Late 1995ers-mid 1998ers were in preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten when 9/11 happened, and might remember it, and those born in late 1998 early 1999 have a slim possibility to remember it if they lived in New York at the time. 2002ers and younger were not even born yet when it happened.

1996ers-1999ers were little kids during the Britney Spears era, while 2002-2005ers were little kids during the Miley Cyrus era.

Gamers born 1996-1999 would've started out with a PS1/N64, and grew up with PS2/GC/XB. Gamers born 2002-2004 would've started out with a PS2/GC/XB, and grew up with PS3/XB360/Wii.

So you see, Gen Z really starts at 2002. Here's how I group the birth years.

1982-1991 = Full Gen Y; 1992-1995 = Older Millennial Group; 1996-1999 = Younger Millennial Group; 2000-2001 = In between Millennial Groups and Gen Z; 2002+ = Full Gen Z.

Age Groups: 0-2 = Baby/Toddler years; 3-6 = Younger kid; 7-10 = Older kid;

11-14 = Younger adolescent; 15-18 = Older adolescent (18 is legal, but still an adolescent); 19-24 = Very Young Adult; 25-39 = Young Adult; 40-54 = Younger Middle Aged; 55-69 = Older Middle Aged; 70+ = Old Age.

The 9/11 cutoff does not work. The United States is not the only country in the world. Would kids in Indonesia know about 9/11? No. But wait, this is American pop-culture, isn't it? Well, if an Indonesian kid moves to America and graduates with many high school classmates who do remember 9/11, what does that make the Indonesian guy? Gen Y or Z?

And if you're talking about school, then let me type this out.

Preschool= Ages 3-4. During the 2001-02 school year would've been those born in 1997-1998.

Pre-K= Ages 4-5. During the 2001-02 school year would've been those born in 1996-1997.

Kindergarten= Ages 5-6. During the 2001-02 school year would've been those born in 1995-1996.

Whether or not someone in preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten at the time would've remembered or cared about 9/11 depends on the person. If they lived in New York during the time, then of course they would've remembered it. If they lived somewhere in Washington State or Oregon during the time, then I'd doubt they would remembered/cared about 9/11.

Now, as for those who were in first grade (born 1994-1995) or older during the 2001-02 school year, well, like I said in the first paragraph, those who were in another part of the world during the time wouldn't remember 9/11, because most kids in Asian countries, besides those in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and parts of China, wouldn't care about American pop-culture.

I was born in late 1996, and I don't really remember 9/11, since I lived in Eugene, OR during the time, but grouping me in with someone born in the 2000s because of it is stupid. There's a huge difference between how those who are currently in high school grew up, and how those who are currently in elementary school grew up, so you guys need to stop lumping mid-late 90s babies in with 2002+ babies.

Oh, and as for this whole debate on who born in which year could classify as which decade or generation, prepare for me to beat a dead horse here:

Choose a label;

1987-1990; 1988-1991; 1989-1992; 1990-1993; 1991-1994; 1992-1995; 1993-1996; 1994-1997; 1995-1998; 1996-1999; 1997-2000; 1998-2001; 1999-2002.

I would say "Who cares?" in capital letters, but the people behind wiseGEEK will lowercase the letters, since they don't want anger to be shown on this site. Anyway, with you guys labeling everyone, you guys act like we are all locked in rooms, and can't associate at all with anyone in a higher label from us.

Well, with me being born in late '96, let me say I got labeled with 1995-1998. So does that mean that I'm now locked in a giant room with everyone born 1995-1998, and can't associate or talk to anyone born in 1994 or before or anyone born 1999 or after? Labels are not only ageist, but they are also stupid, immature and make you seem prejudiced.

I was born in October 1996, and I can enjoy life perfectly fine here in the 2010s.

All you 1990s kids talking about how life in the 1990s was like heaven and life after 2005 or so was like hell, listen up.

You guys were kids in the 1990s -- little stupid kids who had no care for politics, no care for getting a job, no care for college, no care for a career, just innocent, stupid little kids in neverland enjoying anything life could give you.

You were adolescents in the 2000s, and adolescence is completely different from childhood. You're no longer innocent and carefree, you now have to worry about money and college, you become more interested in the opposite sex, you sometimes come along problems with drugs and alcohol, etc.

But just because you're too lazy to find any entertainment after 2005 or so doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. Haven't you seen “Avatar: The Last Airbender?” That show is better than any 1990s or early 2000s cartoon out there. You were just too old to appreciate it, and found watching Nickelodeon to be embarrassing for someone your age at the time. Give the show a try, and you'll like it.

Plus, there are many things here in the 2010s that I enjoy just as much as the stuff I grew up with in the 2000s. I prefer 2D animation over CGI, but my two favorite CGI movies, “Wreck It Ralph” and “Lego Movie,” came out in the 2010s. I was 16 when “Wreck It Ralph” came out and am currently 17 as “Lego Movie” is in theaters.

Plus, after I graduate high school in 2015, I plan to go into a film career, and become a movie idol for the 2020s kids -- something that you 1990s elitists could've been for the 2010s kids if you weren't so ageist.

And for all you people saying that every kid who grew up in the 1990s was active, played outside and every kid who grew up in the 2000s and 2010s was/is lazy and played video games all time, I have two words and one number for you: PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

Many games on the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 are just as addictive as the games we had in the 2000s and nowadays in the 2010s. I know many people born in the early 1990s who were just as hooked on their PlayStations and Nintendo 64s back in the 1990s as kids in the 2000s were on their GameCubes, PlayStation 2s, and Xboxes.

And for all you guys saying that kids in the 1990s grew up completely without internet, while 2000s and 2010s kids grew up completely with it, I once again have two numbers and one word used twice: Windows 95 and Windows 98.

Windows 95, as its name implies, was released in 1995. Sure, not as many people used Windows 95 as modern internet PCs, but it was still there.

When Windows 98 came out is really when the internet started taking off. I remember back in 1997 and early 1998, not many people I knew used internet, but when Windows 98 came out, it seemed as everyone was all of a sudden using it.

Now, yes, we used dial up back then, and internet was slow. Guess what? Most people used dial up until somewhere in the mid 2000s (2003-2006) some even used it until the late 2000s, so therefore most kids who grew up in the 2000s grew up when internet was slow and was not what is today.

As for saying all kids who grew up in the 2000s and 2010s are fat and lazy, please explain why there are still sports teams at schools and even not at schools that still get many kids to join them? I have a younger cousin born in 1999 who is 5 years younger than I am, and he is on one of those sports teams.

Hopefully I open the eyes of some of these elitist closet pedophiles/ephebophiles who get excited by telling younger people what they missed out on and grouping them with babies born today.

"Gen Y ends in 1992". "No, it ends in 1993".

"Nah, bro, it ends in 1994". "Hell no, the cutoff's 1995".

"1996 is Gen Y too". "Hey bro, so is 1997".

"1998 fits in Gen Y as well". "You age nazis, 1999 fits in too"

Why is this a big deal? This debate on what year you were born and what generation you could consider yourself? Who cares? You will not receive special privileges just because your parents had sex and you happened to be born in one of those years. You guys are treating this 90s kid/Gen Y thing like it's some exclusive club, and being in it makes you better than anyone else. Guess what? It doesn't.

Years are just an idea, a way of telling time, how long it takes for the Earth to make one trip around the sun. That's all they are. Thanks to Christianity, we consider the year we are in to be the 2014th year in the Gregorian calendar. In the Islamic calendar, the year 2014 is actually 1435.

Get the hint? Years are not about labels and culture, years are only about how long it takes the Earth to make a trip around the sun, and the only reason why this year is called "2014" is because of how Christians pinpointed years after the death of Jesus Christ.

There, I'm done with this rant. Now stop labeling people by what year they were born, and stop acting like experiencing a certain time makes you better than anyone else, and enjoy life here in 2014 (or 1435 if you believe in the Islamic Calendar).

@post 100: 1993 swings both towards the early 90s and mid 90s. 1996 swings both towards the mid 90s and late 90s.

January 1990 - April 1993 = Early 90s; May 1993 - August 1996 = Mid 90s; September 1996 - December 1999 = Late 90s.

There you have it: a perfect three years and 4 months in all three divisions.

Oh, and I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but no one cares about who is in which generation. I was born in 1994, and could care less what generation people consider me in.

Who cares? I was born in 1994, late 1994, graduated high school last year, and all I have to say is no one in the real world cares about the cutoff between Gen Y and Z. No one cares about the requirements.

Remembering 9/11? Oh, I'm sorry, so someone born in 1990 who was born and raised in Kazakhstan with no TV or internet isn't part of Gen Y? And before you tell me "Hur dur, dis is American culture, not Kazakh culture", well, what if that person moves from Kazakhstan to the United States around the mid 2000s and finishes school in the United States?

Making cutoff dates and grouping people only a bit younger than you with people born today is just stupid. The way I see it, grouping should only be with people three years older and younger than you, and even three years is stretching it.

1989ers should not be grouped in with 1985ers and older or 1993ers and younger.

1990ers should not be grouped in with 1986ers and older or 1994ers and younger.

1991ers should not be grouped in with 1987ers and older or 1995ers and younger.

1992ers should not be grouped in with 1988ers and older or 1996ers and younger.

1993ers should not be grouped in with 1989ers and older or 1997ers and younger.

1994ers should not be grouped in with 1990ers and older or 1998ers and younger.

1995ers should not be grouped in with 1991ers and older or 1999ers and younger.

1996ers should not be grouped in with 1992ers and older or 2000ers and younger.

1997ers should not be grouped in with 1993ers and older or 2001ers and younger.

1998ers should not be grouped in with 1994ers and older or 2002ers and younger.

1999ers should not be grouped in with 1995ers and older or 2003ers and younger.

2000ers should not be grouped in with 1996ers and older or 2004ers and younger.

And so on and so on and so forth. This debate is stupid, it's sad to see grown people in their 20s and 30s arguing over who belongs in what generation.

*Sigh.* This debate is absolutely stupid and ageist. Many of the people who debate this just want to get aroused by telling younger people that they are superior to them.

Being born in late '97, damn near '98, I don't consider myself to be either Gen Y or Z, but rather in between Gens Y and Z. What do I remember that Gen Y considers to be exclusive to themselves?

First of all, the internet back then. Ah, the times when there was no wi-fi, just a bunch of wires lying around connecting to a modem. You couldn't use the computer and home phone at the same time. Whenever you logged into AOL, you had to sit through that creepy sound until you heard "Welcome. You Got Mail".

As for 9/11, I didn't really care for it since I was three, but I saw it a few times on TV back in 2001-02, so that's good enough. Plus, I don't find it at all coincidental that my preschool had a fire drill almost every day back in 2001-02.

Boy band craze? Funny thing is, the Backstreet Boys were just the One Direction of their time. NSYNC, I liked them back in the early 00s, since I was three and pretty much liked anything, but can't stand them now. I'm glad Justin Timberlake started working on his own, I'd pick ny of the songs he did with the Lonely Island over any song he did with NSYNC.

What I remember the most from the early 00s is Britney Spears, she was hot back then, her music was just stupid.

Madonna's "music" in the early 00s was a great song despite sounding a lot like Britney's work.

This is how I'd label them.

1964/65-1977 = Gen X

1978-1981 = In between Gen X and Y

1982-1995 = Gen Y

1996-1999 = In between Gen Y and Z

2000-2013 = Gen Z

2014 = In Between Gen Z and the following generation after.

Also, this is just my opinion. There is no definition of Gen Y and Z that we can all agree on, because no one wants to feel left out. So if you guys want to debate this until we get an answer we can all agree on, debate this until you die.

In my opinion, Gen Z people are not as healthy as older generations. Why? Because no one is playing backyard games no more. Most children are hooked on psp, playstation x box and net gaming. Gen Y parents are now feeding them fast food garbage (because gen y themselves love fast food). Now there's so much to occupy your free time, like be immersed in a fantasy world playing xbox, why read a good book or play marbles?

Most kids today will live in a make believe world. Losing hours taking pictures and posting in social media is absurd. To Gen Z: Don't let technology run your lives. You're supposed to be its master, not the other way around. --Gen Y here

While I agree with you all that it is hard to consider teeny boppers with their texting on smart phones since age five are in the same generation as I am (age 26), there is also a difference defined in "decades" which certainly falls within a generation span.

A generation is ultimately defined well after the fact, once society has seen a significant shift in the adult behavior patterns of those born within the period, e.g., how they work, how they learn, how they spend, what they value. This all truly cannot be defined for a group until they are in their mid-20's (at least).

Generations are characterized by values which cannot truly be espoused as solidly defined for an individual until after the teen years. That is, of course, why we saw the cut-off date for Gen X change over and over and over again I remember when I used to be considered Gen X, since I was born in '87. It used to be through '87 or '88, and now it's '81 or '82.

There is a big difference between people born in 1997 and before and those born after 1997 because of the way they grew up. People born in 1998 and on learn about 9/11 in school wile the rest of us were in school when it happened. They also can't remember the boy band craze and the 90s cartoons. All these differences can be seen in the way they act.

I think I like anon331397's idea of the generations, because if it's based on the Wiki information on Generation Y, I'd be considered to be a part of the same generation as my boyfriend's 14 year old sister, born in 1999, and I am 25. My boyfriend is 28, making him from the same generation as her? This makes no sense. She grew up in a completely different time than both of us, plus by the 2004 cut off, this also would include my 11 year old cousin in my generation, born in 2002. This doesn't make any sense to me and I think the idea of the following works better:

Gen X: born 1965-1981.

Gen Y: born 1982-1995.

Gen Z: born 1996-present.

Plus, there's soon surely going to be a cut off for Generation Z, which I think are a pretty lucky generation in some respects, considering many of them will have grown up being technologically awesome.

Although even then, my mum was born in 1961 and I'd not consider her to be in the same generation as my friend who was born in 1981, but I suppose they will have been through similar things (Thatcher) although my mum is going to remember them much better.

I think there are many people on here who are maybe a little too young to be classed as Generation Y.

The years between someone born in 1980 and someone born in 2000 would have completely different recollections of their childhood. A lot changed in that 20 years.

There's nothing wrong with being part of Gen Z. Embrace it - you'll look back on it with a heart-felt nostalgia later on!

Long live mix tapes and being fined by the local video shop for never rewinding your rented video tapes! --1985'er

These are the true demographics:

Gen X: born 1965-1981

Gen Y: born 1982-1995

Gen Z: born 1996-present.

I was born in 1992, so I would consider myself as a member of the millennial generation because I remember VHS, 9/11, Game Boy color and I grew up in the 00s so I got to see the rise and evolution of the internet.

I would end the millennial generation at around 1995 because they were the last to become children in the 90s and grow up in the 00s along with the late 80s and early 90s babies. Sure they might have some generation z traits, but at least they are still old enough to remember some of VHS and 9/11 and the world before facebook and ipads took over. I would also say that anyone who grew up in the second half of the 90s and the whole 00s decade are definitely generation y because during this time frame, a huge cultural and society change took place that definitely affected generation y while we were in our youth.

Also, I will say that generation z is 1996-2012 because kids born in that time frame were either little kids or babies when the huge technology and cultural change took place, so they pretty much are growing up in today's world where the internet and technology have completely taken over the world.

Generation y's end is more transitional. Late 1995 marks the where we begin to transition from y to z, early 1996 still sees a significant minority who still have the gen y mentality but after mid 1996, I haven't encountered a significant demographic of Generation Y types. It certainly shouldn't extend to 2000 though. I've met maybe three Generation Y types who were born after 1996.

Commentators on here keep separating 1996 babies from the mid '90s babies. 1996 is a part of the mid nineties. To elucidate on this fact, I give you a list:

Early nineties: 1990-1993

Mid nineties: 1994-1996

Late nineties: 1997-1999

People tend to think anywhere past five isn't the middle, but it really is. I'm not just saying this because I was born in '96, but because it is an actuality. So please, stop cutting us off, because we're a part of Generation Y, too. No, not only because of the birth year, but because of the cultural and nostalgic aspects we all share.

I find it interesting how easily history is lost and replaced by speculation.

The X in generation X is the Roman numeral 10 and stands for the tenth generation since the country was founded. (A generation being accepted as a 20 year period.) Therefore what has become known as generation Y should really be generation XI or generation eleven.

Baby Boomers 1946-1964

GX 1965-1979, possibly 81

GY 1980-1995

GZ 1995-present,not online yet

Generations are more defined by their actions and influences on the world and how they were influenced. These years are pretty accurate to that point. Some people may act more like a generation previous to their, but that depends on upbringing, environment and attitude.

For the most part the descriptions found on the internet of those generations is pretty accurate. Only you can break the mold and have all of the positive attributes and behaviors from multiple generations. Don't get stuck in the mud.

The problem I'm seeing with generation Y and Z are from what I've seen in leading groups within communities. We'd hate to stereotype but when so many people in a certain generation act the same way and there you have it. Gen Y-ers are stuck on technology so much that many are nixing the idea of blue collar work. That's actually detrimental to society because blue collar work is what makes the world go-round, and we're not talking unskilled blue collar work. I'm talking about mechanics, inspectors, machinists, engineers, contractors, plumbers, etc. are all aging and fewer people are replacing them. It's showing in the industry I work in throughout my state. I work for the state.

Fewer people with blue collar technical skills means more money out of your paycheck for these services. I read a report once that said the handyman will be gone in 50 years if the path doesn't change. I'd agree with that. Out of all of the people I know, only people before GX and in my generation know anything about fixing cars, my house or building something, and I'm a GX girl.

For the people I know in GY, none of them know anything about that. They only know computers and smart phones. They have no practical skills at all and some of them told me they'll just hire someone to do it for them or buy another one. Bad, bad news. I'm sure there's some GYers out there who do know how to work with their hands, but that number appears to be smaller in comparison to the gens preceding them.

GZ is a bit too young yet to tell, but it won't be my kid at least. He's being taught construction, mechanical and maintenance skills and have his technology, too. My 10 year old can change a car tire, fix his bike and use a voltmeter. I know adults who can't do that. My other beef is the GY and GZ infatuation with Youtube. The things both of these generations will do for 15 minutes of ratingd and fame to get their video to go viral. I watched a GZer the other day body slam a cholla. Seriously, what? A violent neighbor's kid this past weekend pulled my son off a bike and started a fight. Instead of stopping a fight, two teens pulled out their phone, recorded the fight and then said they were going to put this on Youtube. An older girl came up and broke up the fight. I tore into those kids about their responsibility and poor actions. Everything doesn't need to go on the internet and people should be helping each other, not filming it. Apparently, we're losing our humanity for the quick fame and Youtube is demonstrating that most of our actors are from the GY and GZ group.

Am I wrong? Watch as many videos as you can, and you'll find I'm not far off-base. You know, I've lived in many countries and many states, and have been to war even. My life's experiences have definitely not prepared me for the mess we're going to have in the future if the GY and GZ groups don't round themselves out and create some kind of balance.

This living in the now crap without a sense of responsibility for your own actions, and influence or lack of contribution and responsibility for the community has got to go. But of course, we can also blame those baby boomers and BOXers who either helicoptered or left their kids on autopilot too much because those two actions are what have created bad GY and GZ products. Only the awake can change their fate. Don't be a sleeper.

The year range for Generation Y/Millennials is too large. Most sources put it at 1983-2000 or up to 2004. In my opinion, people born after the mid 90s are in a completely different group. It has nothing to do with the twin towers and everything to do with the Internet. People that were born 83-95 grew up in a time of transition from a partly connected society to a totally connected one. They didn't have cell phones as kids. There were some Internet services, like AOL and Prodigy, but not many had them.

This is a pretty stark contrast to people born after this period, where cell phones, social networks, instant messaging, text messages, and email were the norm.

I completely agree that this generation is prone to childhood obesity. I am a member of Generation Y and have a two year old daughter. I do not allow her to consume any fast foods or snacks full of sugar in order to prevent her from becoming obese. I want my daughter to live a healthy life, so I will do all that I can to educate her about the importance of making healthy choices.

As a member of Generation Y, I feel that we are responsible for doing something about the obesity epidemic, because of the fact that we are likely to become obese. We are a generation of many medical advancements, so it only makes sense to concern ourselves with the rising rates of obesity, and that we use our knowledge to stop this from becoming even worse.

In response to the lady or gentleman who called all millennials liberals who voted for Obama (we're not and I didn't) and then said giving everyone under 30 the right to vote was like giving a gun to a seven year old: giving anyone over fifty a computer is like giving a gun to a monkey.

I was born in 1994 and I can tell you with complete certainty that generation Y ended with those born in '94 and '95. The differences between those my age and my slightly younger peers was not as apparent in elementary school, but by the time my class reached middle and high school there was an obvious difference in values and behaviors that could be seen between my grade and the two grades directly behind.

I see this gap even between me and my three younger siblings. Although my next closest sister (born '97) shares a few Gen Y characteristics, she is not fully a millennial.

I was born in July 1982. Am I gen X or Y?

Assuming GenY ends at 1994 or 1996 for that matter, born in 1997, I find myself really torn between the late Y generation and the Z generation.

When I was four, I remembered watching the Twin Towers fall, experienced the last of the VHS and cassette tapes (at least I know how to operate and use them unlike my younger siblings), floppy disks (hardly used them though), saw what a walkman was and so forth.

At the same time, I found technology to be fascinating. However, this did not mean I would spend most of my time on such devices. I still have not gotten a phone yet, while my friends complain about being outdated with their iPhone 4. I don't have any use for a phone anyhow.

As for poor spelling, the general population of GenZ seems to be struggling in this area. If you are bothered by the lack of effort and ability for these people to spell and write correctly, you are definitely not alone. Good manners are not as frequent, and consumerism an adopted ideology.

Thinking about the later GenZ, I feel like the little kids (aged 5 or below)who possess iPhones, iPads or laptops are given too much. Items such as these should be a privilege, not a right. Every time I hear parents boast about their young children being able to navigate through these devices and stay on them for most of their day (starting tantrums when told to do something else), I feel rather concerned and angered. It certainly does not seem like something any parent should be proud of.

Disobedient and wild behavior from children and teenagers starts from such parenting.

I was born in 1998 but I consider myself a part of Gen Y rather then Gen Z. Most of my family members were born in the mid to late 80's while the rest were born from '91 to '98 with me in 98.

I grew up with VCR tapes, cassettes etc. In fact, my brother who was born in 1983 is the only one who actually had CDs. My family had a computer before I entered kindergarten and I'm just entering high school now and my parents decided I needed a phone. So my point is really, there is no black and white on where Gen Y ends or begins. I would truly consider Gen X a few years behind us late 90's kids. Though it all really depends on your family and how you are brought up. I was brought up with the early 90's shows, but I had more of the early 2000 music. Which yes, by the way, I do remember the early 2000's. I don't remember 9/11 but I remember the time period around it. It's all relative.

People my age are viewed as greedy, disrespectful and lacking proper manners which is entirely not true. While there are *many* late 90's babies who are, those are stereotypes. Not all of us are like that. My parents were born in '58 and '60. I was born last so they were tired by the time I was born, but I was still raised with a strong sense of manners and respect and if I stepped out of line I certainly got knocked back into it.

While there may be a big gap between 1994-1998, it's hypocritical to say that late 90's babies don't fit in with the early 90's babies but we fit in with the early 2000's. There is a huge difference between 1998-2003 and Generation Z supposedly starts in 2002 or so. It is all relative and it is unfair to lump us late 90's kids in with Gen Z while most of us were born with siblings who are from the early 90s, meaning we grew up with that lifestyle.

I was born in 1994 and I remember 911, even though I was only seven! But there is a generation gap. In my opinion, I believe that children born after 1995 are a completely different generation than the late 80's and early 90's. In any generation, the early ones to the late ones should be considered different, because as time goes on, things improved over time.

I was born in December 1979 (couple of weeks before the 80's) and consider myself as from Gen Y.

I kind of have a problem with making Generation Y some huge 20-plus year generalization. The fact is, the world is changing faster than it ever has in history. A child born in 1989 (like me) did not have the same experiences as a child born in 1999. I used cassettes, didn't have the internet, had no cell phone, etc. until I was well into double digits. I didn't actually get a cell phone until I was 17.

Basically, my point is that I didn't grow up with ubiquitous technology like the children born after, say 1996 or so. It may sound nitpicky, but I think the gaps between generations are widening all the time. And the experiences specific to kids born in 1985-1990 are very different from 1995-2000. We need to stop lumping them together.

Born in 97' I still consider myself part of Generation Y rather than Generation Z. Even now, I'm noticing a gap forming between those about four years younger than me or so. They're so young, but so obsessed with technology.

My family didn't get a computer until 2007 and we used CDs until a year or so ago. Not to mention I still don't have a cellphone, nor do I feel the need to have one.

Plus, I remember my dad calling for 9/11 telling my mom what was happening. My sister and I were watching Blue's Clues.

Still, I'm embarrassed for this whole generation I'm grouped into. Deepest apologies to those older than me who also find this newer generation irritating. Please don't group us all together.

I know I'm pushing it, but even being born in 1995, I still consider myself part of GenX. So basically, I didn't have access to the Internet until 2003 and figured out how to use Word in 2005. I remember clearly what went on the day of the 9/11 attacks and what I was doing in my classroom (first grade).

I honestly think that after '95, a new generation started. My sister ('99) is completely absorbed by an entirely new generation. She's so dependent on all the technology she can get her hands on and is so used to having TV to entertain her, or complains that she wants a new iPod Touch or that our parents haven't gotten her an iPhone yet. She rejects anything that isn't "mainstream" and asks me why I bother listening to indie folk/rock music because it sounds "gross" to her. And she also wondered why I don't like Justin Bieber, who happens to be a year older than me.

I would like to point out that there are exceptions, I think, especially in GenX as to whether or not we are part of it. Before any of you assume that I come from a white, middle-class family, I would like to say that I'm actually a first-generation Hispanic and my parents had to work hard to make ends meet for a while. Also, my parents were born in '66 and '68, so they don't count as part of the Baby Boomers generation, but then again, they were born in Mexico. Also, in case any of you are wondering, my parents are both legal US citizens. For some reason, I think that I've been brought up as a stereotypical white American for some reason, though.

I guess there is truth that, in a sense, a great portion of GenX are neo-hippies or faux rebels or whatever, as even with the people I'm in school with seem to be full of liberal ideas and going against the conventional. Most of my friends' parents are conservative Republicans, and my dad voted for McCain, although me and my friends tend to have, more liberal attitudes towards politics.

So anyway, what I'm trying to get at in this snippet of my life story is that there are obvious exceptions to GenX, and I count myself as part of it, though I think I'm pushing the year limit. But I would hate to think that '98 or '99 babies are also a part of it when they can't even recall a life without being glued to the computer screen. Also, my APUSH teacher is part of GenX, since he's only 29.

You Millennials and Xers got Barack Obama into office and you're proud of that? I'm an Xer myself born in the early 1970s and no person under 30 should be allowed to vote. Giving "kids" the power to vote is like giving a 7 year old a loaded gun.

I was into history during my academic years, so when Obama was elected, I knew this country had reached its nadir. Most of you Yers and Xers voted for him because he was hip, had a Facebook account, and you wanted to make history by electing the first black president. So hows that working out for you guys so far going into his fourth year as POTUS?

I was born in 1992 but I don't like my generation. I wish I was part of the 1970-1980s culture/music life.

I think people don't understand Generation Y. Most people think we are stupid, lazy, arrogant and disrespectful, but look at our parents. Aren't they the ones who taught us our manners? You can't blame us for your mistakes.

And I'm pretty sure you didn't win "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" Point made. We are not stupid or lazy. Yes, we may be a little disrespectful at times, but like I said, maybe you as a parent should have instilled a little better attitude from the beginning.

I also feel people have such stupid opinions about Gen Y because we are still so young. It's called being a teenager. That's like calling a baby stupid because they can't crawl. Gen X needs to grow up and stop blaming everyone else for their mistakes.

You are not superior because you're one letter ahead of us in the alphabet.

I believe Generation Y are the last generation to remember the launch of the digital age that has been rapidly occurring since the 2000s. The last of Generation Y should be born in 1994 because childhood begins at age 5 and this is the beginning of childhood age and they would be the last children of the 1990s such as myself.

The first true Generation Y had to be born in 1980 because of mathematical range of the dates 1977-1982. Somewhere in the middle point is 1980. These people born completely into the beginning of the took of with the digital era since the 1980s.

The cuspers apply with all similarities to Gen Y. Those born in 1977- 1979 are similar to the 1982 born in that sense because they came of age at the end of the cold war and at the beginning of the computer explosion into the market. Those born in 1995 and 1996 have similar traits to 1993 borns as they remember the last full digital age of the early 2000s before the digital age was completely ingrained in society in 2003 with the beginning of online personal space and cheap communication with mobile phones and internet for the first time available widely to the world. Those born in 1997 or 1998 tend to go to the true label of their Generation.

Gen Y/True millennial span: 1980 – 1994.

Gen X: 1965 (beginning of low birth rates) through 1979 (old enough to remember most of gen x angst culture phenomenon as a whole with MTV and such).

Gen Z: 1995 (most only have faint memories of the 1990s but very strong early 00s which can be easily mistaken for late 1990s since the cultural difference is minimal) through 2009 (last of the beginning of digital age).

I was born in 1994 and I see myself as Generation Y. I have heard recently that a good characteristic for Generation Y is if they were children or teenagers during 9/11. I was in the second grade and still remember it quite distinctly. Therefore, the kids born in '96 and later could not remember 9/11, and were born into a completely digital world.

I still remember cassette tapes and CD's. In fact, my family didn't own our own personal computer until 2000 or so. I don't see the big issue with a large age span for Generation Y. The Baby Boomers were about twenty years. I think Generation Y should be about 1978-1995.

@anon253832: I agree with you, and would definitely use sometime in the late '70s as the start of the Millennial Generation, given that I was born in 1979 and grew up with the Internet - that is, at least the beginnings of it (e.g., email went mainstream in the late '80s/early '90s, and Amazon and Yahoo in the mid 90s).

@anon255667: Even though only a minority of people born during the late 1970s grew up with the PC/Net, I still refer to them as Gen Y, because enough of them (millions) did have it while under 18.

@anon227298: “I hope this is a joke.” It is not a joke when it comes to social issues such as LGBT rights. It was those born beginning in the late '70s who have long supported gay rights (the books "Generation We" and "Generation Me," as well as a 2003 Pew Research Center Poll, prove it) although for those born from 1977 - '79, as well as the early '80s, I do believe that only the Millennials living in liberal areas of the country have been gay-friendly since entering or leaving college.

@anon235955: I completely agree with you. Given the very complex demographic and cultural changes of the latter half of the 20th century, it is impossible to pinpoint an exact date. Unfortunately, media organizations such as Fox News almost always use the early '80s as the start date of Gen Y. The exception is Margaret Hoover, although she is not that clear about it, given that while she talks about the Millennials as being under 30 in 2011, I've also heard her call herself Gen Y, and she was born in 1977.

I just ask how can we relate generation Y to burnout?

@anon253832: Computer use as a definition for Generation Y is not a valid one, since the majority of Generation Y did not even own a home computer prior to the late 90s - most having gotten one between the release of Windows Me and Windows Xp.

Having had an Apple II as a child makes you one of the lucky ones. If you are going to generalize based upon technology, you could use the Game Boy as it was very good seller; it works because early members of Generation X are often called the Atari Generation, and later members are referred to as the Nintendo Generation (although early members also bought the NES).

I think it would therefore be reasonable to call early members of Generation Y the Game Boy Generation. Otherwise, if you use computers as a yard stick, Generation X would have had larger numbers of computers than Generation Y, both as children/teenagers and as adults.

I'll say Gen Y has to start at around 1980 and end about 2000. I would probably even include 77'-79' in that range. I was born in 1980, and I would be a cross between an X and Y. Technically, my generation has no home, since they always cut Gen X off before me and start Gen Y two years after me (which makes no sense at all). I remember in elementary school, they nicely called us, "Gen Next" or the "MTV Generation", and this was coming from the Baby Boomers and Gen X'ers.

I had an Apple – yes an Apple – when the old logo was the colors of the rainbow in 1985/6. Everything I did was on a computer or something techie. We had the first set of handheld games (Gameboys, etc.). My point is, I find it easier to group Gen Y less by "age year" and more by characteristics. I have friends born in 86' and 87' that I have a lot in common with because we remember the same trends. I grew up in the 90s, and graduated in 98' (having had a cell through most of high school).

So if we are basing this on technology and trends, there would be no way people could or should exclude 1980-1981 babies from Gen Y.

Well I think the right thing is to keep the 1990's babies together and don't put us alongside with really older guys. We're all in our teens and 20's we're much younger.

I think it's an attempt of older guys trying to take back their youth years!

I was born on New Years Eve 1991, so I'm basically in 92. I'm 20 now and my character is a Z! I grew up using laptops and internet. It's not fair you guys put us with others who are from the 80s. 90s are 90s!

Within five years, all of the 90's years will be adults from 18- 27 -- only five!

When I was in school, most of the people I knew were born in 1984 for several years - except the teachers who were far taller than us. The thing I remember most about people born in this period was how much smaller we were than everyone else. As time wore on I eventually left school (they told me I didn't have to go any more and there was a party) and after a few years I met more people born in 1984. They were much taller than I remembered.

People who base what someone is like by the decade in which they were born, is what what is defined as being ageist.

I'm against ageism completely. I don't judge people's relationships based on their difference in ages, nor do I attribute one's work performance (bad or good) or personality traits to a particular decade or other timeline in which they were born and raised.

People make too much of an issue over this and are defined as ageists. Only in America has this obsession happened where people pass judgment on people using the decade(s) they were raised in as a conclusion.

I'm a full Y-er and I know that for a fact (born 1990), and I could easily associate myself with anyone, say between 1985 through 1993, but most of my friendships correspond to those with a birth date between 1988 up to at least 1992-ish. Not forgetting about my fellow Y'ers like Post 39, usually some who have an 89 D.O.B tend to be a little more egocentric but not over powerful like, "yeah dude, I got the last of a decade. I'm special. Throw me a freakin' party. Woo-Woo! I'm better than you."

Now as for we 90'ers, I see us as not being that far off different from any mid to late 80'ers or an early 90'ers, in my opinion. Any 89 or 90er is kind of more like a "half breed" compared to our other fellow 80s and 90ers brothers, when the beginning to the ending of each decade is a carry over into the next and not too much change will occur for at least another year or two.

So we are the same and love you guys and seek no ill will towards any of you, regardless of year.

I was born in 1976, grew up with a sibling born in 1978 and have been using computers and the internet for as long as I can recall being a conscious being and not fixated on He-Man and Transformers. My formative years in the early to mid-90's were spent getting acquainted with 386s, 486s, Pentiums and America Online and listening to grunge on my Discman.

As far as I can tell, defining a generation by an exact year is complete crap. Why should I belong to a generation that defines itself by concepts that are alien to me? A typical "Gen X" person seems to have been born in the late 60's/early 70's and has very little in common with me. The same applies to a teenager born over 15 years after me.

"Generational" drifts occur from the eye of the beholder; my "generation" tends to be anyone roughly within a ten year radius of my own age, usually leaning towards those who did *not* spend most of their adolescence/youth in the 80's. Is it any coincidence that most of my friends were born roughly between 1974 and 1984? We share the same music, can remember the same trends and spent most of our formative years in a very similar environment. The common factor among most of us is that a large portion of our youth occurred during the 90's and/or early millennium. I am as incapable of understanding the appeal of hair metal bands as I am of desiring an emo hairdo - any attempt to do either would be considered "retro" or "too young" for my age.

Twenty years is way too long to define any given group of people. And pinning cut off points down to a specific year is just ridiculous.

There are no exact dates to each generation. Nothing is set in stone.

@anon130276: Your experience is a good reminder that generalizations based on birth year are pretty much worthless. I was born in 1970 and have pretty much always been around computers and/or video game consoles. When I was a teenager, nationwide, ~20 percent of households with children had a computer (this is a government statistic available on the Internet). For kids my age (or at least in my neighborhood) it had to have been at least 40 percent, based on the number of kids in my class with computers. This may have been regional, or it may have been because households with teenagers were more likely to have a computer than ones with pre-teens, simply because computers of the era were less user friendly and had a bit higher learning curve than today (at least if you wanted to do anything fun or useful with them).

Because of my early association with computers, I was highly interested in the Internet and have had access continually since 1994 -- this is also true for many of my friends, and by 1996 it would have been strange if a person *didn't* have a connection. I should also mention that if you were one of the early computer households, networks and online communities were a pretty well known phenomenon, as early as the 1980s we had BBSs and shortly afterwards, dial-up services like Prodigy, Compuserve, and AOL had become commonplace.

"When it comes to reason no. 3, you don't really start to see socially conservative attitudes until you look at those born before the late 1970s (therefore, 1975 are '76 are the XY cusp). I was born in '79 and I have nothing in common with Gen X."

I hope this is a joke. Seriously, I was born in 1970 and have spent a great deal of time around kids born as late as 1986 -- and culturally, they are almost identical to me. Film, music, clothing, and even politics pretty much click exactly with mine, which I (and my cohorts) have held since we were teenagers.

The only limiting factor to my having long term friendships with kids so young is the experience gap, since it's hard to watch them rediscover everything that I had spent the last 15-20 years discovering.

I was born in 1979, so I would be considered a late xer, although what would I have in common with someone born in 1968? They are an Generation X-ers as well. People born from 1978 to 1986 seem to have much in common. I can remember songs from the early eighties, as ironic as this sounds, most people in this eight year period could remember fads, fashions, music of the early eighties as well, prior to births of 1983.

I could remember seeing Pac-Man coming out and E.T, being a toddler in 1982. Many of these individuals today in their late twenties and early thirties remember these movies from almost 30 years ago. So there may be a small generation between 1978 to 1986, if researched by sociologists.

Sorry, but at one time it was that late 60s to around 1983 were X and that everyone after 87 was a Y. When did this change exactly? At one point, those of us born between 1984-1986 had no generation. At one point Wikipedia was calling us "The MTV generation". I think the media has been messing with the generation of mid-80s babies to fit their sales demographics.

Strauss and Howe's work has long been disputed and they are by far not the only experts in the field of generations. If you are going to use 1982 as the start date because people born in that year graduated and came of age in 2000, then that too can be disputed since 2000 is debatable as to whether or not that year actually started the new millennium or not.

Some say the new millennium started with 2001, since there was no year 0. Either way, Gen Y definitely includes those born in 1980 and 1981 since they came of age at the very end of the millennium.

Gen Y also includes all those who came of age at the turn of the millennium and after. People born in 1980 and 1981 also came of age with the internet, which was an important tool that took us into the 21st century and third millennium.

I find it really interesting that you guys are fighting over this; it just proves that we are diverse. Those people who come to the office late and have a cavalier attitude are the bad grapes. Every generation has these.

Gen X got generalized like this because of their bad grapes and now they do the same thing. We are not lazy. We got Barack Obama into office. Also, a lot of people belief that we need to pull an ideologically split country from the cliff. In order to do this you need different thinking. The old systems of religion, media, politics are over. If we go back to the good old days this country is doomed. Gen X and Gen Y have come too far to go back now.

@anon200394: I'm an early X-er (1968). I have a natural knack for using computers, so new technology has never presented much of a problem for me. I started out with the old TRS-80 computers and can use my Windows Vista program with ease, as well. So, technology is not an issue.

I certainly wouldn't paint all Y-ers with the same brush, by any means, but I work with a variety of people in my profession, and the newest crew coming in just seems to have this lackadaisical attitude that, I must admit, really bothers me.

One of our department heads has the most cavalier attitude toward everything, and has no problem with dumping features simply because *she* isn't interested in them, regardless of how many of our subscribers might be. She comes into work pretty much when she feels like it and leaves when she wants. In contrast, one of the people in her department is near her age, and her boss's laissez-faire attitude drives her nuts. So obviously, not all Gen-Y members are like that. However, we've had a number in my office who have been. They seem to have fewer social graces, and some even lack a basic sense of what's professional behavior. While some of that is certainly attributable to inexperience, trying to help them in that area is met with resentment and the attitude, "OMG. Like people don't really care about that Bleep anymore." Is that so? Try to get along with people you need to work with when you have that attitude.

I've found the cavalier attitude less prevalent in earlier Gen Y-ers than later ones. Somehow, a number of them missed out on how to conduct themselves in a business environment. I mean, I'm creative and something of a free spirit with little patience for bureaucracy or bullcrap, but I do know how to act at work. Apparently, some of these kids just don't. Not all of them, but a disturbingly large number.

I don't think it has a thing in the world to do with technology. I think they were raised by a bunch of people who didn't instill any kind of social niceties in their kids. When parents teach their children proper behavior, it carries into their adulthood, and into the workplace.

But those are just my observations.

As a Gen Y, I find the way in which older generations interesting, yet sadly misinformed. Yes, we do spend a considerable amount of time with our personal technologies. However, your "kids these days" attitude is cliche and only highlights your refusal to adapt to change.

That people can assume technology automatically isolates people is illogical. Here are some personal examples of how I maintain a very happy, healthy social life while consistently using technology:

I keep in contact with my family almost constantly. Through texting and IM me and my parents have managed to stay close even during the stages of young adulthood, where family is often pushed to the back burner.

By using a Facebook message or by sending a mass text I can get 30 - 40 people together for a wonderful evening, even if I plan it at the last minute. As well, I know when and where every local band is playing, am informed of the best places to socialize every night, and can sign up to volunteer for these social and artistic events on a dime, instantly expanding my social circle to include people I wouldn't have otherwise known shared common interests or even ever met.

I volunteer as a student ambassador for my university. By sharing my mobile number and Facebook profile with foreign students unfamiliar with not only the university, but the country, I have helped countless exchange students become more familiar and comfortable with their surroundings. I have even went as far to house an exchange student who lost their spot in residence.

In short, it seems to me that the generalization of Gen Y being rude, selfish etc. etc. seems to be caused by a misunderstanding of how we communicate. Which, is no better nor worse than other generations, only different. However, we do care about society around us just as much, if not more than previous generations.

Comment Number 47 came the closest to nailing it.

First of all, the generation of Americans born after 1980 or so that grew up under the wave of technological innovation that exploded from the Information Revolution, will be America's Final Generation.

But Poster 47 missed a couple of things.

First of all, it is not this generation that we have to blame for the destruction of Western civilization. (Believe me it is coming, regardless of your birth date. You are a dreamer if you think this is sustainable).

We sowed the seeds for our own destruction back in the 20th Century. That's when corporate America figured out that the easiest way to ensure future profits and stability was to develop technologies that could completely enslave their consumers.

It began with a relatively non-invasive tool (radio), then took a huge leap forward with television in the 60's and 70's. This is when you really began to see the success of information technology controlled consumerism, which is dependent upon a customer base whose psyche is effectively intertwined with, and an extension of, electronic information networks. The great advantage is that these consumers are predictable, and these technologies also ensured that they remained controllable and placid.

The Information Revolution that began with the personal computer, and then the Internet and now extends forward through various emerging technologies, has become the ultimate tool of the corporate state. It has succeeded in providing users with a near-total replacement of reality, which can be manipulated at will. The pure genius of this approach is that "users" don't even realize anymore that they are being controlled or manipulated; that would require a perspective that they can no longer attain.

These people are simple pawns of the Corporate State, no more no less. How can you blame them for being self-absorbed or self-destructive? Consumerism's rules are simple; you get what you want, when you want it; the consequences to our society are meaningless compared to a loss of profitability or control.

America simply won't survive its next big crisis. Do you really think we could win a war with China, for example? The latest generation of mindless mushbrains believe there can't *be* another conflict or disaster of that magnitude.

I was born in 1991 when my brothers were in their early/late teen years. When I was growing up in the mid 90's, I learned so much good things that kids will never learn. I learned how to spell my name in Egyptian. We used to have field days before school closed for the summer. Now kids born in the 2000's learn nothing that we learned. If it weren't for us, they wouldn't have anything.

Generation Y is from 1977 to '95 for three reasons:

1. An online chart proves that the annual birthrate really began to dramatically increase in 1977, when 3.3 million babies were born compared to 3.14m in '76 (difference = 160,000). The birthrate leveled off in '95.

2. Those born in '77 just came of age when the internet really started to become popular in '95 (hence the "net generation").

3. Studies show very big similarities between those born in the late 1970s and the babies of the '80s. For example:

A) People born in '78 were the first to have voted 66 - 32 for Obama, as surveys prove.

B) A poll around 2005 show 53 percent support for same-sex marriage among those who were in their early and mid-20s at the time.

When it comes to reason no. 3, you don't really start to see socially conservative attitudes until you look at those born before the late 1970s (therefore, 1975 are '76 are the XY cusp). I was born in '79 and I have nothing in common with Gen X.

My daughter was born in 1980. So, she is a Generation Y. Excelled in HS and got a scholarship to an Ivy League school, through merit, not based on financial need. Graduated Summa Cum Laude and proceeded to a lucrative job in sales. Got married and quit to be a stay at home mom of my two beautiful grandchildren. Not luck, just planning.

However, her husband was tragically killed in a boating accident last summer. So what does she do?

Enroll in an accelerated nursing program to get her B of S in Nursing to combine with her B a A in Finance and Business Administration. She is motivated and will be OK. Not all GenY people are lazy. She works her tail off, attending an accelerated post graduate degree and raising a family as a single mother. As her mother, I help as much as I can and i am proud.

I was born in 1990, but I don't fully associate with my generation. While I know how to use a cellphone and computer, I'm not always using one. I have no idea how to even use a smart phone, nor do I see a need for one.

I knew about the internet when I was younger, but never used it until my teen years. I use correct spelling and grammar when I talk online and don't use things like "omg, lol, g2g". I hold open doors for people and say please and thank you.

While a lot of people my age are on there phones or computers a lot, it doesn't mean we all need them constantly. Some of the people from older generations talk about how as generation Y, we are self-absorbed, rude people who don't care about others, and can't spell or use grammar correctly. You yourself are being rude and judgmental by generalizing my generation as a whole.

So, while I was born in 1990, I can still associate with some things from genX. My whole life wasn't brought up with technology, but I still know how to use it for the most part.

I find all this interesting as I have never looked at this before. I'm in Generation Y, born in 1987. Decided to look into this because a teacher called me a typical Generation Y youth, so i decided to look into it.

One thing I do consider to be kind of weird is the whole 2012 theory and the galactic alignment of the three planets being sucked into the black hole in between the two layers of the milky way, where supposedly all planets are born. Kind of seems incredibly farfetched! I'm not a believer but hey! It's also the end of our generation cycle. 2012 is Generation Z'ers.

Now the next generation after this is called the Alpha Generation. Does this mean that they are going to follow the phonetic alphabet now? That would be hilarious!

Comment number 50 sounds exactly like my son. So we can stop worrying? Why?

Wow! So one generation spans 20 years. There are generation gaps, which is people born in the early part of the generation compared to the later part of the generation. People who are born at the tail end of generation x, might better associate with people born at the beginning of generation y.

So people born at the end of generation y, might associate better with people born at the beginning of generation z. Although, I believe generation y is roughly from 1978 to 1999. I can easily talk to people who were born in the late 70s to the late 90s. But I can also easily talk to people born in all generations, because I know how to relate to people. So it doesn't matter what generation you're in, it matters how well you can relate to people.

Yes, there are things that you wouldn't have seen that happened. But that's no excuse for you to not know about it. Like the Space Shuttle explosion of 1986. Just because you might have been 4 or you were years from being born, doesn't give you a right not to learn about what happened, and why it exploded. So stop thinking you're not in the same generation as someone born in the 70s because you think you're too young. You're just too stupid.

I was born in 1992, and my elementary school assignments are riddled with chat speak, I've had internet since i was a baby, and i was on webcam chat rooms and making online videos before i hit the double digits.

Most people say the generation starts around 1995-2001, but i mean, generation Zs are considered "digital natives", right? that's exactly what we are.

There's no way I'm in the same generation as people born in 1975. i mean, they were in high school and college when the internet came? they were in their 20s while i was still in diapers? they used those gigantic cell phones with those antenna things? they were 26 when 9/11 happened.

Not that i think I'm in the same generation as people born in like 2003. i really think that the "generations" are much shorter than people make them out to be.

Happy I found this blog! I'm the grandmother of a Y Generation young man - age 22. Being from the 50's silent generation I thought he needed psychological help (on the computer constantly, stuck in his room, slow to want to get a job, taking forever to get through college etc) until I researched his generation and found that he is pretty typical! Funny - no?

He lives with us so I'm really getting to know him. I guess we can stop worrying about him? He isn't rude at all by the way! He's very sweet, sweeter than other generations! Maybe all that doting on from parents and teachers makes Y'ers more compassionate?

I think that the gen y ended in around 1993-4ish. i was born in 1993 and i think that i am one of the last of the gen y.

To the people who take issue with the negative stereotypes associated with gen. y such as rudeness, I offer this response. The changes in media that developed in their formative years and into their 20's (mainly cell phones, ipods and internet) all allow you to completely tune the world out and ago into your own. There are so many kids on their cellphones texting, or plugged into their ipods that they seem obvious and uncaring towards other people. Thus comes the belief that they are rude.

And the there's the internet. It's this vast technological development that almost defines the global sharing of ideas and global marketplace. The no. 1 use for it, according to statistics, is still porn.

And then there's facebook. It's like a substitute for a social life. Why experience anything in real life, or go through any risk? Just live vicariously through others by visiting someone's facebook page, or go look on your wall and see if someone said anything to you.

One can spend their time trying to connect with others on the net: in chat rooms, forum postings, the comment sections for various sites and you'll never meet these people. They could live in another country and are probably not who they say they are, and they're just like you. So, go ahead and flame them, start trolling (I promise this all has a point --just stick with me here) And this rudeness is all over the net and the crassness carries over into advertising, marketing products and T.V. That's why the negative stereotypes about y-ers exist: because of the culture that has developed around them.

When I grew up in the 80's and 90's, we still hung out with other people, but if people are on their cellphones, or texting, on their facebook or on their ipods, then people associate those people who use those excessively with them. Honestly, people now seem more like robots towards each other. Where one used to be able to connect in a public place, now that's deemed unsafe or not worth one's time.

Go plug yourselves into your favorite technological device, but even that won't save you, and you can't run away from this crass culture. And that's why boomers, and even some from gen. x associate negativity with generation "y" – it is because of the media and culture of today. And older people don't understand how something like texting can be fulfilling.

Now I know Y'ers aren't plugged in to their ipods, cellphones or facebook all day long. But a boomer, and many from gen x can't fathom what's so special about texting a friend on your phone. (isn't “y” a convenient, lame name because it comes right after "x"?)

And here's the clincher as to why we might see gen "y" in a negative light and what is their primary challenge: How can they accomplish an identity for themselves if communication modes like the web, cellphones, facebook are the main things they have to identify themselves with?

Doesn't one get lost in another's identity, since communication involves sharing, connecting and the self getting lost? Is the net and all this a reasonable way to form an identity?

Since "Y's" are just beginning to become self-consciously aware of themselves, it will be interesting to see if anything gets attributed say, 20 years from now.

Other forms of communication seem so "old-school" to many of the snobby kids who prefer texting (letters, books, and actually talking to someone) that older people sense this and so attribute negative 'snottiness' with younger people- because older people just couldn't understand the high forms of communication like texting or facebook wall writing (there's sarcasm there in case you didn't catch it).

In the end though, it all seems like a bunch of pretentious b.s as another user stated. And for the record, I was born in 1981- graduated high school in the class of 99, so I'm either from generation x or on the cusp of y and have never identified with the latter.

To anon140865, not even! Some say it goes as far back as 1975! It ranges anywhere from 1975 to 1982. If you were born before 1975, you're an X'er. If you were born after 1982, you're a Y'er.

The reason they pick those years? Well, the 1982 was simple- they turned 18 in 2000 (start of a new millennium? Not!), and the birthrate reached its lowest point after the Boom in 1975, thus a "new generation" was born every year after- including that. Plus, 1975 is still part of the 18-34 demographic (that's too large a span!) in 2009.

Thinking about presidential races. In 1996, the newest voters (18-21) were born from 1975 to 1978. Sounds to me like these new "Generation Y" voters were targets of the candidates. Why Y? Well, I can't call them "Generation X" as today many people argue they're all part of Y! I mean they all came of age in the 2000's after all; that's the whole identity of Generation Y- the new young adults of the 2000's.

Yeah, that's right, after 2000, they could drink, vote, gamble, smoke. Wait a minute! They could do all that at some point during the 1990's! Oh well, they're still part of Generation Y though, the ones who came of age after 2000. (If you can't find the sarcasm, it's there. look harder!)

I was born in late 1976 (the dawn of punk rock) and I don't identify with people my aunt's age (born in the 60s- i.e. late boomers/Gen X who experienced being adults in the 1980s - I was a kid). They seem much older than me.

I think I identify most with people born from 1972 (at a push) to 1984 (in regards to them understanding pop cultural references and my sense of humour) Also someone on this had a kid at 22 (born 1977 had a child in 1999). That isn't the norm in most developed countries (I'm still childless).

Admittedly, I'm now possibly in a minority in regards to that but it's becoming more common for people to take their time growing up and then having kids of their own (i.e. not being in an economically or personally stable situation conducive to raising kids - if they have any common sense). Anyway, some theorists say 1976 was the start of Gen Y not 1977 or 1979.

Also, the dude born in 1989 who doesn't identify with me as I was born in the mid to late 70s - as I said I don't identify with folk born in the early to mid 1960s (they're proper grown ups compared to me!), I think generational classification is just a way of identifying trends in birth rate e.g. lots of babies born after the Second World War. Once men were back with their women having a celebratory shag fest, experienced by my grandparents' generation.

It's ridiculous to suggest someone born in one year before the split can't identify with someone born a year later but then again I still think of peeps born in 1975 as having a wee bit more seniority over me (especially when you're a wee kid at school). A final thought: I find 90 percent of pop music today to be absolutely useless crap. I think it's cool not to like pop music (of now).

For years we have been hearing about Generation Y. But no one has ever stopped to ask what the Y stands for. Turns out, it is a place marker - simply the letter after X for the generation after Generation X.

However, the next generation that is starting to leave its mark on the world is not a place-marker! It is a technologically-savvy, ultra-connected, intelligent and entitled tribe!

Are you an iGen? Are you part of the tribe?

from what i can tell, I'm a true YZ cusp (1994). yes i would say i have both gen Y and Z traits. it just overlaps so much. if you are born in the cusps of eras, although in saying that i would classify myself as gen Y or the millennials and my formative years are in the noughties (2000s decade).

i would have to agree a lot with anon127390. well currently, I'm reaching towards the end of my high school years (graduating in 2012..lol i know it has its significance to some of us) and indeed what makes a difference between generation Y and Z is that it's not about the music and the culture or the attitudes, but the events and the experiences that they go through. for me the biggest difference between gen y and gen Z is that if you remember watching 9/11 either live (or the next day like me because i was born on a different side of the world), in a way it does force us to grow up and learn the world isn't a big playground and it is the real deal especially with the recent financial crisis. you are gen y or maybe if you remember the millennium party, and i remember both.

All right, it is our human nature sometimes to feel that you belong to something, but worrying about labels too much is never a way to go and i do have a purpose with this relaxed format of response, just to give it a bit of a joke with the labels. Well, most of these cusps will age sometime this decade of tennis (2010s).

Oh by the way, the next generation preceding the gen z is generation Alpha(A). Weird reason how they have that name (from a forgotten source, damn it!) but it's suppose to represent a new cycle in the generations based on the first pure 21st century born people and it is the first generation to be completely growing with 21st century events and this generation are born around now (2010)up to 2024 and my nephew fall into this category and will largely be children of generation Y younger generation X and oldest of generation Z. Suit yourself, people.

I have to put in my 2 cents worth. Let me bring you back in time to 1999. I was reading an article in Business Week that year after having just graduated college. It talked about this "new" Generation Y, or the 20-and-under crowd, born from 1979 to 1994. Their older siblings and parents were the Generation Xers.

Keep in mind, this was when the internet was new, cell phones were just starting to get into the hands of the common person- (at a monthly cost of nearly $100 as well!) and 9/11 was still another two years away.

I heard from the mid-90's until around 2001 or so that I was part of Generation X. What year was I born? 1977. I heard it said by quite a few that Generation X ended in either 77 or 78. I did not one time hear that 1977 was any other generation.

So, fast forward into 2010, and I'm seeing articles putting me into Generation Y. Now come on. How in the world am I supposed to be in the same generation as someone born in 1992 just entering college?

When I entered college in 1995, there were no cell phone users. The internet was just in its infancy, and was not heard of outside academia. I wasn't even using it, because it was primarily a porn outlet back then. Few sites existed, and I was doing my research from encyclopedias, while typing papers on a typewriter.

Now, compare that to today. Most college kids are using the internet to look up information, while yapping or texting on their cell phones, so they can copy and paste that online information in their term paper, while they update facebook or twitter of what they're doing. You all can agree in 2010 this is the case.

There is no way I'm in the same generation as them. I made a comment at Thanksgiving how before Google, I was a Yahoo!'er. That reply led to a baby boomer relative saying before Google, they were an Encyclopedia user- so was I! I used the Britannica as a major source of research in high school and most of college.

I started using the internet in 1996, email in 1997, and as a viable research tool in 1998- that was my senior year of college! The three years before that I was still using books to look up information!

So, after hearing my comparisons to college kids today versus my college experience from the 90's, am I really part of this "young" crowd of Generation Y?

If you really want the final punch, when those Encyclopedia Britannica commercials aired in the early 90's, I was in high school, and looked just like that teenager in those commercials, doing the same work he talked about!

There's no way I'm in the same generation as someone born in 1981 or even as late as 1983.

I'm from the middle bulk of Generation Y (born in 1989) and I already know some subtle yet important differences between me and those born in '85 and '86 (though we are of the same cohort and had mostly identical youths).

Right now in college, I'm meeting early 80's-born kids, and while we all feel the same at first, I notice a big gap when it comes to talking about high school and middle school. These kids had a relatively calm and peaceful middle school life in the midst of Clintonian utopia (depending on your point of view) where the biggest worry was whether there would be a US-Russian conflict in the Balkans.

By contrast, my middle school was all about 9/11, the Patriot Act, whether we should invade Iraq, and worrying about a potential Al-Qaeda attack on midwestern suburbia. When I was in fourth and fifth grade (1999) I was always intimidated by the teens up at our high school (those born between 1981-1984) who we saw as distant "big kids".

With the passage of time, I think sociologists will notice enough discontinuities between the turn of the millennium and core 2000's cohorts to start talking of two generations around the millennium: those who came of age during the millennium celebrations and those whose formative years were defined by them. I fall in the latter group. The former were kids who knew the last years of the 20th century substantially, having been kids during the end of the Cold War and teens during the Clinton years. They entered the millennium with promise of a new adulthood, only to be humbled by 9/11.

The latter only perceive the 20th century distantly as a time of innocent childhood (the 1990's) and felt no real political impact until 9/11. 9/11, rather than being a dam against the river of 20-something dreams, was the big event of our childhood, forcing us to grow up and realize the vulnerability of our way of life. We may not have had the revolution and social upheaval of the 60's nor the promise of prosperity with the end of the Cold War in the 80's, but we experienced the limits of the bravado of American Bush-Cheney neoconservatism in Iraq. It taught us to take a more nuanced and saner look at geopolitics and not to get caught up in the "dead or alive" hysteria that captivated our preteen years.

One thing we seem to often overlook is that Gen-Y is now coming of age and entering the job market for the first time. Growing up with technology makes these new workers both more valuable and more difficult to manage and hire.

Entering the workplace with computer skills is beneficial to any industry, however those same abilities can lead to challenges keeping employees on task and motivated, especially with a blackberry lying around. I've personally had a hard time with my new 'talent,' but I came across this article and thought it might help a little with the challenge of hiring new Gen-Y staff.

DaPore makes some interesting points about the employee pool in the service industry, so it's definitely worth a look.

The mid-late 70's born kids are definitely not in my generation lolI was born in 1989 and these kids were already in their teens and 20's when I was still in elementary school!

I don't even identify with people born in the early 80's. Even at a reasonable generation Y start date such as 1985, I've noticed certain differences between me and my friend born in that year, particularly in what our high school years were like (him an early 2000's teen, me a mid-late 2000's teen).

Late 70's-early 80's born kids constitute a cusp generation whose name I don't know. The people I most identify with were born from 1987-1993.

William Strauss and Neil Howe, who developed these theories on generations claimed that Gen Y is 1982-2000, X is '61-'82, and Z is 2001-present.

i say everyone shut up and just say that gen y was from 1980 to 2000 and gen z started in 1997 and goes to 2010.

If your son was born in 1999, he is Generation "Z".

Since you were born in 1977, you are a late X'er near the cusp. You probably can identify with X and Y.

Actually, the gap is right. Generation Z'ers are the children of Generation X and older Generation Y'ers.

OK, while reading all the posts, let me tell you how funny I find this. First, I have always been puzzled as I was born in the end of 1977. That would put me at 32. O.K. My brother was born in 1969 and he is absolutely an Xer but they tell me that at one point I am a Y then the next thing I know I read some article that I am an X.

I will tell you what -- I am sticking to Y because I like what Y represents, and it defines me more than X. But now I am being told that I am a millennial, heck my 11 year old was born in 1999, are me and my son in the same generation? LOL. Please someone put the hammer to the nail and make sense of all of this.

I first used the Internet very avidly when I was a teenager, my friends are mostly in the early 20s, and I feel more at home with 2000s-era Japanese anime than listening to Nirvana. And I was born in 1976. Sorry guys, but if I'm not Generation Y, then I'm at least Generation XY cusp. I sure as hell am not strictly Generation X. I don't care what generation you think 1976 births belong to.

Okay lets get something straight. I'm sick and damned tired of this ignorance.

Generation X: 1965-1979

XY Cusp: 1978-1982

Generation Y: 1980-1994....."4"

YZ Cusp: 1992-1995

Generation Z: 1995-2009

Shut the hell up and stop spreading mis-information. Finis.

P.S I'm a Millennial (1986) and I'm the youngest. My mother is a Boomer (1949) and father was a GI/Silent (1933). I know my mother loves older men.

Older siblings: Generation X 1968, 1970, 1973 and a XY Cusper 1982.

Generation Y is 1977-84. Generation Y was born during the transition from 70s and 80s culture, which happened during those exact years (Star Wars, Apple Computer, nintendo, etc.)

Generation Y identifies with this transition, and the many subsequent cultural changes that happened during their childhood years. "70's" culture did not technically end until around 1984.

This was established years ago. And it is still true today. Generation Y holds Gen X values, with high tech sensibilities. Digital technology and connectedness are very much a part of this generation.

They were the dominant social networks of early Web 1.0, when millennials were still in preschool/elementary.

This makes them different from both Gen X and Millennials. Look around you. They are in their late 20s-early 30s now, quietly texting like crazy, and may "hint" at 80s fashion since they were very young during that decade, and are about 2/3's removed from it (Millennials are 100 percent removed since they were born in that decade).

The Millennials generation technically starts in 1985-86, when the 80s really began.

Hope that makes sense.

Generation Y is the same as Millennial, net generation, next generation, boomerang generation, echo boomers, peter pan generation, etc. we have many traits and therefore many names. the one that was coined by this generation is the Millennial Generation. most people say that mid 70's -2000 is what makes up this generation. i think more like 1982-2000, simply because prior to 1982 your beliefs are likely to fall more with the X's. The actual Echo Boom (drastic birth rate increase) was from 1982-1995.

I would think that 1981 would have to be included as part of generation Y. Although this is not the case everywhere, people born in 1981 (such as myself) are Ontario's class of 2000.

Group Age Range

Teens 12-17

Gen Y 18-32

Gen X 33-44

Younger Boomers: 45-54

Older Boomers: 55-63

Silent Generation: 64-72

G.I. Generation: 73+

I have one question: Why are so many of us making a fuss about what generation we belong to? It's like the whole 'Emo/Prep' thing. What genre of music do you listen to? What style do you wear? How social are you? How do you cope with things?

It's all the same now. Each of us is too much a part of everything else to be one specific thing.

Our music, style, social habits, and coping methods, along with when we were born, and multitudes of other things has nothing to do with what label we get.

I was born in 1993. As far as I have found, I have not yet been excluded from the GenY 'label'. I took a test a while back and found that I am more of a Gen Xer.

I say screw the damn labels and live. But if you want to live with the labels, then don't let me stop you. It's your loss for not living out of the box.

I don't think people should just generalize about any one generation in particular. Sure, maybe there are some similar traits that each generation shares, but that doesn't mean you should just lump them and their behaviors and whatnot all into one category. As far as how "easy Generation Yers have it", imagine what the cavemen would say to all of the preceding generations.

Being the Generation Yer that I am (1988) I know many people around my age range that are still very sociable and get out a lot and aren't mostly glued to their computers or cell phones or ipods or whatever you other generations want to label us as utilizing 24/7.

This is so biased. I am 31, born in 1979, so why in the heck am I part of a generation with 19 year olds? I am on the Gen XY cusp. I was a teenager and young adult in the 1990's. The Gen X generation category is so biased. They only care about people born in the early 70's and late 60's and screw MTV for excluding people born in the late 70's from Generation X. How could someone born in 1975 be from a different generation from someone born in 1976?

To anon72813: I was born in '75, so I'm a halfbreed :-) gen X and gen Y. I see myself as a Y-gen. Anyway, the generation after z is generation alpha (the one my son belongs to since he was born in 2010).

I'm a member of generation Y. I believe that anyone born in the 1980's or 1990's decades basically from 1980-2000 is considered part of generation Y.

I disagree that everyone from generation Y are self-absorbed, vapid and rude. I agree some people are, but we aren't all, like, um totally from Clueless. Many may perceive generation Y as rude, because we question and don't always comply as easily as previous generation had.

I believe that the millennials are from 1996 into the noughties, and to about now. If the millennials end in 1994, then why are they called the millennials? It doesn't even make sense. geesh. the millennials are after gen Y.

Whatever the gen it is, i still believe that is due to your beliefs. In general, people believe they are one or are totally influenced by the group. They tend to be on that particular Gen side that they believed in.

This is how influence comes about; it's not a matter of generation.

Otherwise, if generations really do matter, i would say our first generation is inclined to "animal is to behavior like beast", second to "cultural values is to behavior like philosophers", third "technology is to behavior like robot." --Jads

I am of generation y and i do not agree with all of anon55995's comments.

1. Why are you insulting us about technology when you have posted 13 comments about the subject? Someone obviously knows their way around a keyboard.

2. Not all gen Xers are all about the language of "like totally um like kind of um like" I am 16 and have a very extensive vocabulary.

I was born in 1995, so I have no idea what Generation I am in. I think I should have been born in the early 70's, since I would have agreed with the culture/music of the early 90's (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden)

Articles years ago included those born in the late 70s and early 80s. There was a baby bust from 1977-1981. Call me a "cusper" or Y, but I do not have anything in common to those five or ten years older. I am clearly an elder of the current generation.

I'm really amazed people can just generalize that because I'm from Gen Y that I must be rude, self-absorbed, and whatever else. I can certainly agree they do exist, but I know the same types from the other generations as well.

I myself try to smile, hold the door open for people, be kind and respectful to everyone else, and in my experience I get the same kind of rudeness from the older folks as I do from the younger ones!

And to say that us young rude kids are the only ones obsessed with the new technology and talking loudly on our phones is just plain ridiculous!

Every generation has put up with the one before them talking about how much better they are and when they were that age they didn't act like that -- please!

Maybe some of you who want to complain about the rude Gen Y should step back and realize that you might've had something to do with that. Some of you have raised us Gen Y's.

Now that you are done arguing about what time frame Gen. X, Y and Z are in, What would they name the Generation after 'Z'?

People are different. I'm from Gen Y (1986) and some of the things that are said are true, but others like the first poster from Gen X are seriously misguided on what he/she perceives on a day to day basis about us as individuals.

I consider myself the opposite from my generation. I valued/still value my parents opinions, I've respect, I love to be dressed in suits and overall I don't even have a cell phone while looking at the bigger picture of things.

At the end of the day, we've similarities, but nothing like the first poster tried to compare the majority of gen Y to other people in that generation.

Im a gen X and I have to say I can't stand most gen y's. A lot of them are really rude, arrogant and self absorbed. They have no idea at all about common courtesy or manners. They seem to think that it's fine to talk loudly on their phone wherever they are, about anything they want. This is very common on public transport. They appear to be oblivious that they are annoying the people around them perhaps because they think that the world revolves around them.

They seem to be a very superficial bunch. Obsessed with appearances and being seen with the latest iphone etc. They are completely obsessed and sucked in by all the techy gadgets and usually pay more attention to these overpriced landfill items than they do other people. The big companies are rubbing their hands together in glee knowing that they have an entire generation captive. Meanwhile they'll all end up with brain tumours due to over usage of their phones.

I hate the way they speak also. I can't understand a lot of them. They tend to use the word 'like' and 'totally' to punctuate their sentences way too much.

"Like when you can like totally say a sentence without like using the word like 10 times like I might totally like listen to what you have to say."

Oh and while I'm at it. They have no idea nor do they care about spelling or grammar.

Really people, who cares? Why are we all so obsessed with labels?

Generation Z will be primarily the children of Generation X, but will also include younger baby boomer (gen jones) parents, young Gen X'ers (born in the late 70's and early 80's) and even some Gen Y'ers perhaps (teen mothers and some others).

I'd put Generation Y proper as being between 1982 and 1996. Pretty much anyone born around the end of the cold War and the early Clinton years.

The late 70's (77-81) are bit of a cusp between Gen X and Gen Y in my opinion. That is, the teens graduating high school in the late 90's.

I'm a Generation Y'er and I graduated high school around 2007 (born in '89). My brother was born in '91 and graduated this year. I'd say the teens in high school now are still pretty much Generation Y. The Millennial party's going to end probably around 2014 (as far as high school is concerned). I think the rest of the 2010's will be a cusp between Gen Y and Gen Z I guess. The 2020's, on the other hand, will be a hardcore Generation Z decade.

I too have been doing a lot of searches on this particular subject as well and I've found opinions that said Generation Y ended anywhere from 1994 to 2000 so I honestly don't believe there is an exact year when the entire world concluded that generation Y was officially over.

Generation Y starts with 1982, those graduating high school in 2000. Generation X with 1981. Read the books by researchers Howe and Strauss, including The 13th Generation. Books written by those born in the middle of Generation X are a bit biased. They love to not include those at the end of Generation X. The MTV Generation overlaps with the end of Gen. X (1981) and early Gen. Yers, up to 1984 I think.

Generation Y are called The Millennials. I was born in 1981 and graduated high school in 1999. I was always called the last of Generation X. I have a best friend who was born in 1982, and her high school class was called The Millennials.

Generation Y's last year is 1996 NOT 1994. Wikipedia's years for generation Y are too short. I do not agree with 1982-1994. I think generation Y is 1980-1996 and 1997-present is Generation Z.

I'm sorry but The Millennials ended in 1994. Interesting take, I've been reading a lot of Generation Y articles in the last hour or so. I've heard it all though.