In 2023, Generation Z (born 1997-2012) would have been between 11 and 26 years old, depending on their specific birth month, as they are considered the first "digital native" generation, growing up with the internet and smartphones.
Members of the Gen Z years were born between 1997 and 2012. So as of 2023, the Gen Z age range is anywhere from 11 to 26. They are commonly referred to as the first fully “digitally native” generation. They grew up with social media and smartphones—they're used to living in a digital-first world.
Pew has not specified an endpoint for Generation Z, but used 2012 as a tentative endpoint for their 2019 report. Most news outlets, management and consulting firms, think tanks, and analytics companies frequently use the starting birth year of 1997, often citing Pew Research's 1997–2012 range.
Gen Z's age range in January 2025 will be 13 to 28 years. This covers the ages between the adolescent stage and the young adulthood stage, and so they range from members who are at various stages of education, employment, and social activities.
For Gen Z, the 😭 (Loudly Crying Face) emoji usually means something is overwhelmingly funny, cute, or heartwarming, signifying "crying with laughter" or being emotionally moved, rather than actual sadness, often replacing the older 😂 emoji for intense amusement. It's used for exaggerated, positive reactions to things like relatable humor, adorable pets, or touching moments.
That is why the generations today each span 15 years with Generation Y (Millennials) born from 1980 to 1994; Generation Z from 1995 to 2009 and Generation Alpha from 2010 to 2024. And so it follows that Generation Beta will be born from 2025 to 2039.
While other cohorts (e.g., Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z) are defined by age brackets, Gen C is defined by its members' digital-first lifestyle and mindset. So whether someone is 10 or 82 years old, they can still be a part of Gen C.
"Rizz" is slang used heavily by both Gen Z and Gen Alpha, originating online (TikTok, Twitch) and spreading rapidly, though it's often cited as a key term for Gen Alpha's developing vocabulary, meaning charm or charisma, a shortened form of the word. It's a term that bridges these generations, with older Gen Z using it and Gen Alpha embracing it as their own unique slang alongside words like "skibidi" and "fanum tax".
The Silent Generation (born roughly 1928-1945) is called "silent" because they were raised during tough times (Great Depression, WWII) and matured during the conformity-driven, anti-communist McCarthy era, leading them to be more traditional, cautious, and less rebellious than previous or subsequent generations, preferring to work within the system rather than challenge it. The name was coined in a 1951 Time magazine article highlighting their quiet, conformist nature compared to their "flaming youth" parents, emphasizing their desire to be seen and not heard.
The Gen Z stare is a generally pejorative phrase coined by social media users to describe a "blank stare that members of younger generations give in situations where a verbal response would be more common" or appropriate.
Donald Trump is a Baby Boomer, born on June 14, 1946, making him one of the first in that generation, which typically spans 1946-1964; the Silent Generation precedes this, generally from 1925-1945, with President Joe Biden representing the latter. While Trump shares some traits with the broader Boomer demographic, his formative experiences as a wealthy individual diverged from many of his peers, though he later became a significant political figure for many in the generation.
Yes, "Gen Zers" (or "Gen Z-ers") is a correct and widely used informal term for people in Generation Z, following the pattern of "Gen Xers" and "Millennials" (Gen Yers), though "Zoomers" is also a popular alternative, and "members of Gen Z" is more formal.
So the most likely prediction is it will be somewhere around 85-87 or slightly lower, assuming that the life expectancy of Gen Z of the US conforms with the global trend; and around 79-80 if the current lagging behind and stagnant trend of the life expectancy in the US continues.
Economic instability and the introduction of AI have had implications for professional career choices and job opportunities. Moreover, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression have become more prevalent, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gen Y: Gen Y, or Millennials, were born between 1981 and 1994/6. They are currently between 29 and 44 years old (around 74 million in the U.S.)
Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
"Skibidi" is a gibberish term coined by the creator of an animated YouTube series and can mean "cool" or "bad" or be used with no real meaning as a joke. "Skibidi" is a gibberish term coined by the creator of an animated YouTube series and can mean "cool" or "bad" or be used with no real meaning as a joke.
What does pookie mean? A term of endearment or nickname that you call your best friend or significant other. Also used to describe something cute/adorable. Example: “I can't wait to hang out with you, pookie!”
Following the trend, the next generation after Gen Beta is likely to be Generation Gamma, born between 2040 and 2054. As we navigate these changing generations, McCrindle emphasized the importance of understanding their needs, values and preferences to anticipate how they will shape society's future.
Generation Z refers to people born between 1996 and 2010. They're the second-youngest generation, between millennials and Generation Alpha. Gen Z identity has been shaped by the digital age, climate anxiety, a shifting financial landscape, and COVID-19.
"Skibidi rizz" is Gen Alpha slang combining "skibidi" (from the viral Skibidi Toilet meme, meaning cool, weird, or nonsensical) with "rizz" (charisma/flirting skills) to describe someone with awkward, bizarre, or exceptionally good (often ironically) flirting abilities, stemming from the absurd, chaotic nature of the meme. It can mean someone has amazing, almost bizarre, charm or, conversely, has terrible, uncool "toilet charisma," depending on the context and intent, often used jokingly to satirize the slang itself.
“Yeet is an interesting word, as it originated as a verb meaning 'to throw,' but as we're seeing that, like a lot of slang adopted by Millennials and Gen Z, it's taken on versatility and become something of a linguistic Swiss Army Knife,” Benjamin Morse, a visiting lecturer in New Media at the University of Las Vegas, ...
In current Gen Z/Alpha slang, 41 (pronounced "forty-one") is a nonsensical phrase, often used with a specific hand gesture (hands moving back and forth with palms up), that acts as a fun, alternative placeholder to the older "67" trend, popping up in contexts like age, time, or quantity, originating from a viral song by Blizzi Boi. It doesn't have a deep meaning but signifies being in on the joke or a particular trend.