For decades, understanding societal shifts has been a key focus for researchers. One invaluable tool in this endeavor is generational analysis. By examining cohorts of individuals born within a similar timeframe, we gain insights into how different age groups perceive the world and how formative experiences shape their perspectives. Pew Research Center, a leading authority in public opinion research, has long utilized this approach to analyze American attitudes and demographics. But as time progresses, generational boundaries require re-evaluation. So, What Age Is Gen Z exactly?
Generational studies allow us to observe Americans through two lenses: their stage in life – young adulthood, mid-life, or retirement – and their shared experiences as a generation. These shared experiences, encompassing significant world events, technological advancements, and socio-economic changes, interact with the aging process to mold a generation’s worldview. While age-related differences in opinions are natural, studying generations helps researchers track how perspectives evolve over time and differ across cohorts. For example, we can analyze how today’s older adults felt about certain issues when they were young and compare those viewpoints to younger generations today.
Michael Dimock, president of Pew Research Center, emphasizes the importance of generational analysis in understanding societal change.
Pew Research Center has dedicated significant research to understanding the Millennial generation for over a decade. However, by 2018, the need to define the boundary between Millennials and the subsequent generation became apparent. With the oldest Millennials approaching their late 30s and having entered adulthood well before today’s youngest adults were even born, maintaining the analytical relevance of the Millennial cohort required a defined endpoint.
To ensure the Millennial generation remained a meaningful analytical category and to begin exploring the unique characteristics of the emerging cohort, Pew Research Center made a crucial decision: 1996 would be the final birth year for Millennials in their ongoing research. This means that anyone born between 1981 and 1996 is considered a Millennial, while Generation Z, or Gen Z, encompasses those born from 1997 onwards. This delineation provides a clear framework for understanding the age range of Gen Z and how they differ from their Millennial predecessors.
Initially, there was some hesitation in officially naming this new generation. Terms like “Generation Z,” “iGeneration,” and “Homelanders” were considered. In their initial in-depth analysis, Pew Research Center used “post-Millennials” as a temporary label. However, “Gen Z” quickly gained traction in popular culture and media. Leading dictionaries like Merriam-Webster and Oxford, along with the Urban Dictionary, recognized “Generation Z” as the designation for the generation following Millennials. Google Trends data further confirmed this, revealing that “Generation Z” significantly surpassed other potential names in online search popularity. While the process of naming generations isn’t scientifically defined, the widespread adoption of “Gen Z” solidified its place.
Google Trends data illustrates the dominance of “Generation Z” in online searches, signifying its widespread acceptance as the name for the post-Millennial generation.
It’s important to remember that generational cutoffs are not rigid scientific boundaries. They serve as analytical tools. While the specific span of a generation isn’t universally agreed upon, Pew Research Center’s 16-year definition for Millennials (1981-1996) mirrors the span of Generation X (1965-1980). Both are slightly shorter than the Baby Boomer generation (19 years), which is the only generation officially recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau, based on the post-World War II baby boom from 1946 to 1964.
Unlike the Baby Boomers, later generational boundaries lack such definitive demographic events. However, for analytical purposes, the 1996 cutoff between Millennials and Gen Z is considered significant due to crucial political, economic, and social factors that shaped the Millennial generation’s formative years and distinctly impact Gen Z.
Pew Research Center’s generational framework, defining Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z with their respective birth year ranges.
A defining moment for Millennials was the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Most Millennials were between 5 and 20 years old at the time, old enough to grasp its historical significance. In contrast, most of Gen Z has little to no direct memory of 9/11. Millennials also grew up during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, contributing to political polarization. The 2008 election, where the youth vote played a significant role, further shaped Millennial political views. Furthermore, Millennials are the most racially and ethnically diverse adult generation in U.S. history. Yet, Gen Z is even more diverse, highlighting an ongoing demographic shift.
Economically, Millennials entered adulthood during a major recession. This economic downturn significantly impacted their life choices, career paths, and overall entry into adulthood, potentially in ways that differ from Gen Z’s experiences. The long-term consequences of this “slow start” for Millennials will continue to influence American society for decades.
Technology is another critical factor in shaping generations. Baby Boomers witnessed the rise of television, Generation X experienced the computer revolution, and Millennials came of age during the internet explosion. For Gen Z, however, these technological advancements have been present from the beginning. The iPhone launched in 2007, when the oldest Gen Z members were around 10 years old. By their teenage years, mobile devices, Wi-Fi, and high-speed cellular internet were the primary means of accessing the web for young Americans. Social media, constant connectivity, and on-demand entertainment, which Millennials adapted to, are simply the norm for those born after 1996.
The implications of growing up in an “always-on” technological environment are still being understood. Emerging research indicates significant shifts in youth behaviors, attitudes, and lifestyles – both positive and negative – for those who have come of age in this digital era. It remains to be seen whether these are lasting generational traits or simply characteristics of adolescence that will evolve as Gen Z matures. Tracking this generation over time will be crucial to understanding these long-term impacts.
Pew Research Center acknowledges that they are not the first to define a boundary between Millennials and the following generation. While some propose slightly earlier or later cutoffs, the Center remains open to recalibrating their definition as more data emerges. However, current data suggests a continuum across generations rather than a sharp threshold. This highlights that differences within generations can be as significant as differences between them, and individuals at the edges of generational cohorts might identify more with neighboring generations. Generations are complex and diverse groups, not simplistic stereotypes.
Pew Research Center continues to conduct extensive research on generations, including Gen Z. Recent reports explore Gen Z’s views on key social and political issues, comparing them to older generations. While Gen Z’s perspectives are still developing, these early insights offer valuable clues about their potential impact on the future political landscape. Forthcoming analyses will compare Millennials to previous generations at similar life stages to examine demographic, economic, and household trends. Further research will delve into the daily lives, aspirations, and challenges faced by teenagers in the current digital age.
However, it’s crucial to exercise caution when making broad generalizations about a generation that is still young. The political and social climate, including events like the presidency of Donald Trump, who may be the first U.S. president Gen Z fully remembers as they reach adulthood, will undoubtedly shape their attitudes and engagement. Just as the contrasting presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama influenced Millennials, current and future events will mold Gen Z’s trajectory in ways we are only beginning to understand. The technologies, debates, and events that will truly define Generation Z are likely still on the horizon.
Pew Research Center is committed to ongoing research into Gen Z as they navigate adulthood. It’s essential to remember that generations serve as a valuable lens for understanding societal change, rather than as rigid labels that oversimplify the diverse experiences of individuals. Understanding what age is Gen Z is just the starting point for comprehending the nuances of this emerging generation.
