Scribd
Upload
72 views2 pages

Generational Insights: Boomers to Gen Z

This document summarizes four generations: Boomers II (1955-1965) came of age during economic struggles and lost trust in institutions. They focused on self-help and were skeptical of media unlike optimistic Boomers I. Generation X (1966-1976) were often "latchkey kids" exposed to divorce and lacked civic participation. They are pragmatic and skeptical with concerns about family stability. Generation Y or Millennials (1977-1994) are the most diverse generation who grew up with technology and fragmented media. They are less brand loyal and involved in family purchases. Generation Z (1995-2012) will be the most diverse school cohort and expert internet users from an early age in a highly

Uploaded by

Manman Solis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
72 views2 pages

Generational Insights: Boomers to Gen Z

This document summarizes four generations: Boomers II (1955-1965) came of age during economic struggles and lost trust in institutions. They focused on self-help and were skeptical of media unlike optimistic Boomers I. Generation X (1966-1976) were often "latchkey kids" exposed to divorce and lacked civic participation. They are pragmatic and skeptical with concerns about family stability. Generation Y or Millennials (1977-1994) are the most diverse generation who grew up with technology and fragmented media. They are less brand loyal and involved in family purchases. Generation Z (1995-2012) will be the most diverse school cohort and expert internet users from an early age in a highly

Uploaded by

Manman Solis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Boomers II or Generation Jones

Born: 1955-1965
Coming of Age: 1973-1983
Age in 2004: 39 to 49
Current Population: 49 million

This first post-Watergate generation lost much of its trust in government and
optimistic views the Boomers I maintained. Economic struggles including the oil
embargo of 1979 reinforced a sense of Im out for me and narcissism and
a focus on self-help and skepticism over media and institutions is
representative of attitudes of this cohort. While Boomers I had Vietnam, Boomers
II had AIDS as part of their rites of passage. The youngest members of the
Boomer II generation in fact did not have the benefits of the Boomer I class as
many of the best jobs, opportunities, housing etc. were taken by the larger and
earlier group. Both Gen X and Boomer II s suffer from this long shadow cast by
Boomers I.

Generation X
Born: 1966-1976
Coming of Age: 1988-1994
Age in 2004: 28 to 38
Current Population: 41 million

Sometimes referred to as the lost generation, this was the first


generation of latchkey kids, exposed to lots of daycare and divorce. Known
as the generation with the lowest voting participation rate of any generation,
Gen Xers were quoted by Newsweek as the generation that dropped out without
ever turning on the news or tuning in to the social issues around them.

Gen X is often characterized by high levels of skepticism, whats in it for


me attitudes and a reputation for some of the worst music to ever gain
popularity. Now, moving into adulthood William Morrow (Generations) cited the
childhood divorce of many Gen Xers as one of the most decisive experiences
influencing how Gen Xers will shape their own families.

Gen Xers are arguably the best educated generation with 29% obtaining a
bachelors degree or higher (6% higher than the previous cohort). And, with
that education and a growing maturity they are starting to form families with a
higher level of caution and pragmatism than their parents demonstrated. Concerns
run high over avoiding broken homes, kids growing up without a parent around and
financial planning.
Generation Y, Echo Boomers or Millenniums
Born: 1977-1994
Coming of Age: 1998-2006
Age in 2004: 10 to 22
Current Population: 71 million

The largest cohort since the Baby Boomers, their high numbers reflect their
births as that of their parent generation. The last of the Boomer Is and most of
the Boomer II s. Gen Y kids are known as incredibly sophisticated, technology
wise, immune to most traditional marketing and sales pitchesas they not only
grew up with it all, theyve seen it all and been exposed to it all since
early childhood.

Gen Y members are much more racially and ethnically diverse and they are much
more segmented as an audience aided by the rapid expansion in Cable TV channels,
satellite radio, the Internet, e-zines, etc.

Gen Y are less brand loyal and the speed of the Internet has led the cohort to
be similarly flexible and changing in its fashion, style consciousness and where
and how it is communicated with.

Gen Y kids often raised in dual income or single parent families have been more
involved in family purchaseseverything from groceries to new cars. One in
nine Gen Yers has a credit card co-signed by a parent.

Generation Z
Born: 1995-2012
Coming of Age: 2013-2020
Age in 2004: 0-9
Current Population: 23 million and growing rapidly

While we dont know much about Gen Z yetwe know a lot about the environment
they are growing up in. This highly diverse environment will make the grade
schools of the next generation the most diverse ever. Higher levels of
technology will make significant inroads in academics allowing for customized
instruction, data mining of student histories to enable pinpoint diagnostics and
remediation or accelerated achievement opportunities.

Gen Z kids will grow up with a highly sophisticated media and computer
environment and will be more Internet savvy and expert than their Gen Y
forerunners. More to come on Gen Zstay tuned.

You might also like