MILLENNIAL GENERATION

What Does Millennial Generation Mean?

home▸search m▸Millennial Generation

The Quick Answer

The Millennial Generation is the generation born between 1981 and 1996. Also known as Generation Y (Gen Y), "Millennials" were preceded by Gen X and followed by Gen Z.

The Much-Maligned Generation

In the so-called intergenerational war, Millennials are the generation the Baby Boomers love to hate. They are often portrayed as entitled, lazy, and overly sensitive, obsessed with avocado toast, social media, scented candles, outdoor hot tubs, and instant gratification. Millennials have been blamed for "killing" everything from the housing market to chain restaurants. Critics argue that they are coddled and narcissistic, constantly seeking validation on social media. They are accused of being glued to their screens and living in a world of curated online personas rather than genuine human connections.

Millennials point to the fact that they have been saddled with unprecedented student debt, stagnant wages, a challenging job market, a broken political system and a climate crisis - realities largely created by previous generations. In contrast to their often harsh portrayal, Millennials like to describe themselves as the most educated and socially conscious generation ever. The first of the iKids, they are digital natives, having grown up with the internet, smartphones, and social media as integral parts of their lives.

But is all this just another example of how simplistic and reductive these generational labels can be?

The Problem with Generational Labels

The whole concept of generational cohorts, including Millennials, is flawed. These labels create a false sense of homogeneity, glossing over the diversity of experiences within any given age group and the overlap between groups. Millennials, just like other cohorts, are a highly diverse generation, shaped by varying cultural, economic, and technological contexts. Moreover, the media's obsession with intergenerational conflict - often pitting Millennials against Boomers - simplifies complex societal issues. By focusing on superficial generational traits, it is too easy to ignore the underlying systemic problems that affect all generations. This narrative conveniently distracts from the fact that many Millennials share attitudes and values with other generations, making the idea of a generational war seem more like a contrived storyline than a real division.

Key Takeaways

Birth Years: 1981-1996.
Defining Positive Traits: Tech-savvy, innovative, socially conscious, adaptable.
Defining Negative Traits: Entitled, impatient, overly dependent on technology.

Image for Millennial Generation

Millennials are also known as Gen Y.

Summary of Key Points

"Generation Born between 1981 and 1996" is the most common definition for Millennial Generation in texting. Here are more details on the word type and users: