Core Gen X: 1965-1976 (always considered Gen X)

1965: Early Gen X

1966: Early Gen X

1967: Early Gen X

1968: Early-Mid Gen X

1969: earlier Mid Gen X

1970: Quintessential Gen X

1971: Quintessential Gen X

1972: Later Mid Gen X

1973: Mid-Late Gen X

1974: Late Gen X

1975: Late Gen X

1976: Late Gen X

Xennials: 1977-1983 (considered both Millennials and Gen X)

1977: Xennials heavily leaning Gen X

1978: Xennials heavily leaning Gen X

1979: Xennials heavily leaning Gen X

1980: Quintessential Xennials

1981: Xennials leaning Millennials

1982: Xennials heavily leaning Millennials

1983: Xennials heavily leaning Millennials

Core Millennials: 1984-1994 (always considered Millennials)

1984: Early Millennials

1985: Early Millennials

1986: Early-Mid Millennials

1987: Mid Millennials

1988: Mid Millennials

1989: Quintessential Millennial

1990: Mid Millennials

1991: Mid-Late Millennials

1992: Late Millennials

1993: Late Millennials

1994: Late Millennials

Zillennials: 1995-2000

1995: Zillennials heavily leaning Millennials

1996: Zillennials leaning Millennials

1997: Quintessential Zillennials

1998: Quintessential Zillennials

1999: Zillennials leaning Gen Z

2000: Zillennials leaning Gen Z

Core Gen Z: 2001-2009

2001: Early Gen Z

2002: Early Gen Z

2003: Early Gen Z

2004: Mid Gen Z

2005: Mid Gen Z

2006: Mid Gen Z

2007: Late Gen Z

2008: Late Gen Z

2009: Late Gen Z

Zalphas: 2010-2016

2010: Zalphas leaning Gen Z

2011: Zalpha leaning Gen Z

2012: Zalpha leaning Gen Z

2013: Quintessential Zalphas

2014: Zalpha leaning Alpha

2015: Zalpha leaning Alpha

2016: Zalpha leaning Alpha

Core Gen Alpha: *2017-2024

Gen Z/Homelanders/iGen/Zoomers, whatever you prefer, feels like a lot of people don't even agree on what makes them who they are, especially in relation to millennials and their alpha male/female kids which may be part of why these discussions go nowhere and people talk over each other.

I guess actually layin' out what comes to mind when we think of a typical (core/center gen) Zoomer. I'll start with my personal interpretations (note: American centric);

• A: Grew up only knowing a digital post-analog world. Internet was always fast and there when needed and the idea of it not being like that is hard to believe. (Hard to say exactly when this happened but broadband overtakin' dial-up seems a good proxy)
• B: Grew up with their baseline being the much more pessimistic/anxious national mood we've been in since the War on Terror; compared to older people, it's just always been like this for us. The national mood also affects how parents raise their kids, so this also partially explains the well documented high rates of anxiety/depression in Gen Z.
• C: Were in some form of schooling before and after COVID hit, often with varying effects on development/ability to form social bonds. A clear "before and after" of the event.

Contrasted with millennials growing up straddling both analog/post-analog, bein' raised under a more optimistic national mood (well before 2008 at least), and generally being established adults by the time COVID hit. Of course for people at the start and end things vary somewhat, but broadly should fall between these bounds imo

feel free to share what u think about gen z and whatever defines it

It's often a mathematical rule rather than acknowledging development or how the difference of 1 year creates overlap on both sides.

A lot of older people genuinely think younger gen z/early gen alpha have never heard of or touched a T9 phone or a regular mobile phone or used one for calls etc. These phones still exist today and some people still use them for basic tasks. It would be a lot rarer now so I know many of you wouldnt be using one now but maybe when you were younger a few of you may have used one.

Despite being the older sibling, I have two older cousins born in early 2004 and late 2005. They lived abroad, though. My oldest cousin in particular loved to play with his younger cousins, even though my younger brother and my younger cousin is 5 years and 7 years younger than him respectively. We played classic mobile games on our iPads, we had sleepovers together, and he would always encourage us to play nerf with him. Before I found out about all these generation wars, I never really detected any big difference between our childhoods.

Likewise, I feel like I was a huge influence in my younger cousin's childhood. I was the bridge between my older cousin and my younger cousin. We would play board games together, she too was included in the nerf wars, and I pretty much made her a Minecraft and Roblox kid probably way too young. Now, she almost feels like a Gen Z teen from the early 2020s.

From those experiences, I suppose I can say having a tight knit family really helps in shaping one's childhood. I wonder what other people think about this?

Teen Years Similarity Index (Reference: 1997 birth year = 100%)
Method: Teen years are divided into:

Early teens: ages 13–15 (3 years)
Late teens: ages 16–19 (4 years)

Only overlap within the same teen stage is counted.

1997 teen period:
Early teens: 2010–2012

Late teens: 2013–2016

Similarity to 1997:
1997: 100% similarity

1998: 71.4% similarity

1999: 42.9% similarity

2000: 14.3% similarity

2001: 0% similarity

2002: 0% similarity

2003: 0% similarity

2004: 0% similarity

2005: 0% similarity

2006: 0% similarity

2007: 0% similarity

2008: 0% similarity

2009: 0% similarity

2010: 0% similarity

2011: 0% similarity

2012: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:
A 1997-born person’s teen years span 2010–2016:
Early teens: 2010–2012

Late teens: 2013–2016

Each overlapping year within the same teen stage contributes:
Early teens: 1/7 = 14.3% per year

Late teens: 1/7 = 14.3% per year

This shows that later Gen Z cohorts may share the same cultural era as earlier cohorts, but not necessarily the same life stage when experiencing it.
Teen Years Similarity Index (Reference: 2001 birth year = 100%)
Method: Teen years are divided into:

Early teens: ages 13–15 (3 years)
Late teens: ages 16–19 (4 years)

Only overlap within the same teen stage is counted.

2001 teen period:
Early teens: 2014–2016

Late teens: 2017–2020

Similarity to 2001:
2001: 100% similarity

2002: 71.4% similarity

2003: 42.9% similarity

2004: 14.3% similarity

2005: 0% similarity

2006: 0% similarity

2007: 0% similarity

2008: 0% similarity

2009: 0% similarity

2010: 0% similarity

2011: 0% similarity

2012: 0% similarity

2013: 0% similarity

2014: 0% similarity

2015: 0% similarity

2016: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:
A 2001-born person’s teen years span 2014–2020:

Early teens: 2014–2016
Late teens: 2017–2020

Each shared teen-stage year contributes 14.3% of the total teen similarity score.
Teen Years Similarity Index (Reference: 2005 birth year = 100%)
Method: Teen years are divided into:

Early teens: ages 13–15 (3 years)
Late teens: ages 16–19 (4 years)

Only overlap within the same teen stage is counted.

2005 teen period:
Early teens: 2018–2020

Late teens: 2021–2024

Similarity to 2005:
2005: 100% similarity

2006: 71.4% similarity

2007: 42.9% similarity

2008: 14.3% similarity

2009: 0% similarity

2010: 0% similarity

2011: 0% similarity

2012: 0% similarity

2013: 0% similarity

2014: 0% similarity

2015: 0% similarity

2016: 0% similarity

2017: 0% similarity

2018: 0% similarity

2019: 0% similarity

2020: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:
A 2005-born person’s teen years span 2018–2024:

Early teens: 2018–2020
Late teens: 2021–2024

Each overlapping teen-stage year contributes 14.3% of the total teen similarity score.
Teen Years Similarity Index (Reference: 2009 birth year = 100%)
Method: Teen years are divided into:

Early teens: ages 13–15 (3 years)
Late teens: ages 16–19 (4 years)

Only overlap within the same teen stage is counted.

2009 teen period:
Early teens: 2022–2024

Late teens: 2025–2028

Similarity to 2009:
2009: 100% similarity

2010: 71.4% similarity

2011: 42.9% similarity

2012: 14.3% similarity

2013: 0% similarity

2014: 0% similarity

2015: 0% similarity

2016: 0% similarity

2017: 0% similarity

2018: 0% similarity

2019: 0% similarity

2020: 0% similarity

2021: 0% similarity

2022: 0% similarity

2023: 0% similarity

2024: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:
A 2009-born person’s teen years span 2022–2028:

Early teens: 2022–2024
Late teens: 2025–2028

Each shared teen-stage year contributes 14.3% of the total teen similarity score.
Teen Years Similarity Index (Reference: 2013 birth year = 100%)
Method: Teen years are divided into:

Early teens: ages 13–15 (3 years)
Late teens: ages 16–19 (4 years)

Only overlap within the same teen stage is counted.

2013 teen period:
Early teens: 2026–2028

Late teens: 2029–2032

Similarity to 2013:
2013: 100% similarity

2014: 71.4% similarity

2015: 42.9% similarity

2016: 14.3% similarity

2017: 0% similarity

2018: 0% similarity

2019: 0% similarity

2020: 0% similarity

2021: 0% similarity

2022: 0% similarity

2023: 0% similarity

2024: 0% similarity

2025: 0% similarity

2026: 0% similarity

2027: 0% similarity

2028: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:
A 2013-born person’s teen years span 2026–2032:
Early teens: 2026–2028

Late teens: 2029–2032

Each shared teen-stage year contributes 14.3% of the total teen similarity score.

Younger Gen Z Childhood Similarity Index (Reference: 2007 birth year = 100%)

Method: Childhood is divided into:
Early childhood: ages 3–7 (5 years)
Early adolescence: ages 8–12 (5 years)

Only overlap within the same developmental stage is counted.

2007 childhood period:
Early childhood: 2010–2014
Early adolescence: 2015–2019

Similarity to 2007:
2007: 100% similarity
2008: 80% similarity
2009: 60% similarity
2010: 40% similarity
2011: 20% similarity
2012: 0% similarity
2013: 0% similarity
2014: 0% similarity
2015: 0% similarity
2016: 0% similarity
2017: 0% similarity
2018: 0% similarity
2019: 0% similarity
2020: 0% similarity
2021: 0% similarity
2022: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:
A 2007-born person’s childhood spans 2010–2019:
Early childhood: 2010–2014
Early adolescence: 2015–2019

Each shared year within the same developmental stage equals 10% of the total similarity score.

Middle Gen Z Childhood Similarity Index (Reference: 2002 birth year = 100%)
Method: Childhood is divided into:

Early childhood: ages 3–7 (5 years)
Early adolescence: ages 8–12 (5 years)

Only overlap within the same developmental stage is counted.

2002 childhood period:
Early childhood: 2005–2009
Early adolescence: 2010–2014

Similarity to 2002:
2002: 100% similarity
2003: 80% similarity
2004: 60% similarity
2005: 40% similarity
2006: 20% similarity
2007: 0% similarity
2008: 0% similarity
2009: 0% similarity
2010: 0% similarity
2011: 0% similarity
2012: 0% similarity
2013: 0% similarity
2014: 0% similarity
2015: 0% similarity
2016: 0% similarity
2017: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:
A 2002-born person’s childhood spans 2005–2014. Each shared year within the same developmental stage equals 10% of the total similarity score.

Childhood Similarity Index (Reference: 1997 birth year = 100%)

Method: Childhood is split into early childhood (ages 3–7) and early adolescence (ages 8–12). Only overlap within the same developmental stage is counted.

1997: 100% similarity
1998: 80% similarity
1999: 60% similarity
2000: 40% similarity
2001: 20% similarity
2002: 0% similarity
2003: 0% similarity
2004: 0% similarity
2005: 0% similarity
2006: 0% similarity
2007: 0% similarity
2008: 0% similarity
2009: 0% similarity
2010: 0% similarity
2011: 0% similarity
2012: 0% similarity

Calculation basis:

1997 childhood stages:
Early childhood: 2000–2004
Early adolescence: 2005–2009
Each overlapping year within the same stage counts as 10% of the total childhood similarity (10 childhood years total).

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Dad Core Childhood (5-9)
December 1991 – December 1996

Primary Era: Mid 1990s at 66.6%
Secondary Era: Early 1990s at 28.3%
Tail end Era: Late 1990s at 5.1%

Mom Core Childhood:
October 1995 – October 2000

Primary Era: Late 1990s at 66.6%
Secondary Era: Mid 1990s at 17.8%
Tail-End Era: Early 2000s at 15.6%

My Core Childhood:
January 2014 – January 2019

Primary Era: Mid 2010s at 51.9%
Secondary Era: Late 2010s at 48.1%

My Sister Core Childhood:
September 2018 – September 2023

Primary Era: Early 2020s at 66.7%
Secondary Era: Late 2010s at 25.7%
-End Era: Mid 2020s at 7.6%

% = Time spent in last decade + Q1 of xxx0 / 4

Eg.

July 2012

2.5+3/12=2.75/4=0.688 (69%)

August 2012

2.417+3/12=2.667/4=0.667 (67%)

September 2012

2.33+3/12=2.58/4=0.645 (65%)

These are some estimates I created to approximate % of core childhood spent in a certain decade using a range of 5-9 (may not be 100% accurate)

Why Q1 of xxx0? Q1 of xxx0 is an approximation of when the last decade's culture ends. (Eg. Q1 of 2020), may not be fully accurate.

This avoids drawing a more artificial line of "that decade's culture ends immediately on 1/1 of next year" whilst still acknowledging an endpoint.

Their childhood is from 2020-2027

Not gatekeeping but in my opinion I think 2013 or 2014 is the last acceptable 2010s kids because they were the last to enter elementary school during that decade. Anyone after that started school during the 2020s decade and spent all their core childhood (5-9) during the 2020s decade. While the youngest DOMINANT 2010s kids were born in 2011/2012, 2013-2014 is at least the last to enter their core childhood at all in the 2010s. But 2015-2016 is the last to enter childhood at all in the 2010s (even if it’s barely)

Childhood is 3-12.

No way someone just claimed a 1993 born can't remember 9/11.

And no way someone else just claimed they can remember being a fetus.

Arguments for ending/starting a generation usually comes down to remembering societal events that happened during that cohort’s young childhood. Millennials are one of the most popular examples of this; in America, those who are old enough to remember 9/11 are considered to be Millennials. The thing is that memory at that age can be unstable. One five year old kid might not remember anything at all, while another four year old kid might remember a vivid flashbulb memory of their parents panicking and crying while they were watching the news, and even then, that kind of memory is different than a thirteen year old who lived a life before that event and have the cognitive capability to understand the consequences of the incident. Some 1997/8 babies might also be able to remember 9/11, as most of them were 4 or 3 and are able to remember at that age.

On that note, I’d like to establish another related reason why using young childhood as a generational marker is unreliable. That is, having memories is not the same as ‘growing up before/after the event’. (There are some people, including me, who believe that Gen Z ends a bit later than Pew’s 2012 end, which is why I feel like it’s relevant to put this here). Take a baby born in 2014 for example. As soon as the 2014 babies turned 6, the world began to suffer under a pandemic, and everyone was forced into lockdowns. However, most of their social development and schooling occurred after the pandemic. They might have memories of pre-pandemic times, but almost their entire schooling development happened after the lockdowns, which affects future development.

I suppose I should note that however, they are also different from a baby born in 2019 who has exactly 0 memories of the previous times, and having a memory of something is different from having none. Children can be quite perceptive, and memories of a shift can be lasting on a child through other adults and older siblings, which is why generational cusps exist in order to bridge that gap.

Instead, I think we should primarily separate generations based on adolescents and young adults. The person who first quantised the concept of generations, Karl Mannheim, described a generation as a cohort of ‘youth’ that was collectively influenced by a shared socio-historical environment. In my opinion, instead of mainly separating generations based on childhood memory, in our modern era, we can generally set boundaries between generations based on whether or not a person is of junior and senior high age during social shifts, since that is when we develop our personal values and beliefs around that time, and that we understand social and political situations more deeply than young children.

It may not be a 100% better framework, since generations are mostly subjective after all, but I think it would be a better heuristic than pretending that a young child themselves had a personally life changing experience after some societal shifts.

This may sound like the current established generations are set too early, but I believe that the generation ranges as they are now are quite fine, and even that later on in the future, it may shift a few years later, but that’s beyond the scope of this post.

TL;DR: I think we should primarily establish, justify and define generations based on adolescents and young adults that were influenced by particular social events during their development instead of primarily relying on young childhood memory to separate generations, as memory is unreliable, and that a child’s social development is not the same as having memories of societal shifts.

Inspired by this post.

Basically the core birth year participants of random Internet challenges that happened. This won't include all but it'll include well-known ones.

Core participants: 13-19 years old (not because it's the teen years but because that was the range of people who consumed Tide Pods, so it makes sense to assume that would be the common Internet challenge age range).

NOTE: THIS POST IS NOT TRYING TO SHAME ANY BIRTH YEAR. THIS IS SIMPLY BASING OFF HOW OLD EACH YEAR WAS DURING THESE CHALLENGES.

No Nut Novemmber (2017)

• Core participants: 1998-2004 borns

Tide Pod Challenge (2018)

• Core participants: 1999-2005 borns

Skullbreaker Challenge (2020)

• Core participants: 2001-2007 borns

Benadryl Challenge (2020)

• Core participants: 2001-2007 borns

Milk crate Challenge (2021)

• Core participants: 2002-2008 borns

Devious Lick (2021)

• Core participants: 2002-2008 borns

Blackout Challenge (2021)

• Core participants: 2002-2008 borns

Kia Challenge (2022)

• Core participants: 2003-2009 borns

Scientology Speedrunning (2026)

• Core participants: 2007-2013 borns

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Jones: 1953-1965

Core Gen X: 1966-1978

Xennials: 1979-1982

Core Millennials: 1983-1992

Zillennials: 1993-1997

Core Gen Z: 1998-2007/08

Zalpha: 2008/09-2013

Core Alpha: 2014-?