The name Generation Z is a reference to the fact that it is the second generation after Generation X, continuing the alphabetical sequence from Generation Y (Millennials).
Generation Z (Gen Z) refers to the generation of Americans born from 1997 to 2012. The oldest members of Gen Z are starting their post-education years, with new careers and, possibly, families; the youngest are 10.
Gen Z refers to people born between 1995 and 2010. The 'Z' in the name means "zoomer", as this is the first generation known to 'zoom' the internet. Most of those who are a part of Gen Z are the children of Generation X.
Initially, the group born after Generation X was coined Gen Y because it was the next letter progression in the current naming schema. In the late 1990s, authors William Strauss and Neil Howe coined the term “Millennials” to describe the generation coming of age at the beginning of the 21st century.
Generation Z
They are colloquially known as "zoomers", which surprisingly was not coined after Zoom, the video chat service, but instead is a play on the term 'boomers' and refers to the fast-paced nature of Gen Z's upbringing, amidst the explosion of technology and culture.
Generation C isn't about an age bracket, it's about a mindset. You can be 12 years old, or 105, and still be part of this group. It is not defined by age, wealth, geography, nor ethnicity.
They're nostalgic. Gen Z are 19% more likely than other generations to say they prefer to think about the past rather than the future. Their fondness for the past is most prevalent in their music and fashion preferences, with 90s music their second-favorite genre (among Gen Zs).
Gen Z: Gen Z is the newest generation, born between 1997 and 2012. They are currently between 9 and 24 years old (nearly 68 million in the U.S.) Gen A: Generation Alpha starts with children born in 2012 and will continue at least through 2025, maybe later (approximately 48 million people in the U.S.)
Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha for short) is the demographic cohort succeeding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 2010s as starting birth years and the early-to-mid 2020s as ending birth years (see Date and age range definitions).
Gen-Z cares about following their passions, caring for the earth and demanding social and environmental justice from high-level decision-makers. As a result, they're more vocal, values-driven and individualized than generations that came before them.
They are pragmatic and value direct communication, authenticity and relevance. They also value self-care. They may be more likely than older people were when they were the age of the Gen Zers to question rules and authority because they are so used to finding what they need on their own.
The term was coined by Mark McCrindle, founder of the Australian consultancy firm McCrindle Research, and he explains how it came about: "It conforms to the scientific nomenclature of using the Greek alphabet instead of the Latin alphabet and there was no point in going back to A, after all they are the first ...
Generation Z was born between 1995 and 2012, whereas Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. In 2019 the oldest Millennials turned 40, which means that they have been part of adult life for a while.
What years are Gen Z? Gen Z spans from 1997 to 2012, meaning anyone born within those years belongs to this generation. According to Pew Research, the cutoff represents major political, economic and social events that set Gen Z apart from Millennials.
Generation Z and Millennial Negative Traits
Gen Z has less company loyalty than other generations. 25% of Gen Z people say they tend to leave their jobs after only a year or less with each company. Gen Z is considered a much more cynical generation overall.
In 2023, the Gen Z trend is towards more personalized and socially conscious brands. Their spending habits reflect a preference for brands that align with their values and utilize their preferred Generation Z social media platforms.
Gen Z is accelerating the global pace of change, but their attitudes and beliefs are nuanced in various regions of the world. Around the globe, Gen Z is redefining norms for communication, consumerism, purpose, the workplace and the future for all.
And it looks like Gen Z is indeed shaping up to be a homebody generation as well: Looking at their favorite activities by age, 13-18-year-olds are the most likely to say they “go out with friends” for fun in an average night, but playing video or mobile tops their list, followed by watching TV or movies.
Often called the activist generation, Gen Z is quite instrumental in raising voices to champion mental health concerns, raise awareness about climate change and social justice as well as educate people about sustainability and the fast fashion movement— things that can be deemed to be the top Gen Z trends of 2023.
Close to one-fifth of Australia's population belongs to Generation Z. Sandwiched between their Millennial predecessors and Generation Alpha successors, Generation Z includes those born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s, although there is no official date range.
Who is Generation Alpha? Generation Alpha is the generation following Generation Z and currently includes all children born in or after 2010—the same year the iPad was born. The majority of this demographic is under 13 years of age, but the oldest of them will become teens in 2023.
The average life expectancy of baby boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z are different. Compared to the 70-year life expectancy of baby boomers and the 85-year life expectancy of Gen X, Gen Z is predicted to have a life expectancy of over 100 years.