For decades, understanding societal shifts has been a core mission at Pew Research Center. We often analyze public attitudes and demographic differences through the lens of generations. Generational analysis allows us to examine people not just by their current stage of life – young adulthood, middle age, or retirement – but also as part of a cohort shaped by shared birth years and formative experiences.
Michael Dimock, president of Pew Research Center, highlights that generational cohorts are vital for tracking evolving perspectives over time. These cohorts help researchers understand how major world events, technological advancements, economic shifts, and social changes interact with aging to mold worldviews. While age groups may differ at any given time, studying generations allows us to see how older adults viewed issues when they were young and how generational trajectories diverge.
Pew Research Center’s long-term study of the Millennial generation began over a decade ago. By 2018, recognizing the oldest Millennials were approaching 40 and had entered adulthood before today’s youngest adults were even born, we determined it was crucial to establish a clear boundary between Millennials and the subsequent generation.
To maintain the analytical relevance of the Millennial cohort and to begin exploring the unique characteristics of the next group, we set 1996 as the final birth year for Millennials. According to our definition, Millennials are those born between 1981 and 1996 (aged 23 to 38 in 2019). Anyone born in 1997 or later belongs to a new generation.
Since the oldest members of this emerging generation were just turning 22 in 2019, and most were younger, we initially hesitated to assign a definitive name. Terms like “Generation Z,” “iGeneration,” and “Homelanders” were considered. Initially, we used “post-Millennials” as a temporary label in our initial in-depth analysis. However, “Gen Z” has since gained widespread acceptance in popular culture and journalism. From Merriam-Webster and Oxford dictionaries to the Urban Dictionary, “Generation Z” is now commonly used for the generation following Millennials. Google Trends data confirms that “Generation Z” significantly surpasses other names in online searches. While naming conventions aren’t scientifically determined, Gen Z has clearly become the prevailing term.
It’s important to remember that generational cutoffs are not precise scientific demarcations. They are primarily analytical tools. While the boundaries aren’t arbitrary, they serve to facilitate analysis. Generation spans vary, and there’s no universal agreement on ideal length. Our 16-year span for Millennials (1981-1996) mirrors the length of Generation X (1965-1980). Both are shorter than the Baby Boomer generation (19 years), the only generation officially recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau, defined by the post-WWII birth surge in 1946 and a birth rate decline after 1964.
Unlike the Boomers, later generational boundaries lack such clear-cut demographic triggers. However, for analytical purposes, we consider 1996 a meaningful dividing line between Millennials and Gen Z for several compelling reasons, including crucial political, economic, and social factors that shaped the Millennial formative years differently from Gen Z’s.
A significant portion of Millennials, aged 5 to 20, experienced the 9/11 terrorist attacks and grasped its historical importance. Conversely, most Gen Z members have little to no direct memory of this event. Millennials also matured during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, influencing their political views and contributing to today’s intense political polarization. Furthermore, many Millennials were of voting age during the 2008 election, witnessing the impact of youth voters and the election of the first Black president. Millennials are also the most racially and ethnically diverse adult generation in U.S. history, yet Generation Z is even more diverse.
Economically, most Millennials entered adulthood during a significant recession. This economic downturn profoundly impacted their early career paths, financial decisions, and overall entry into adulthood – experiences that may differ for Gen Z. The long-term consequences of this “slow start” for Millennials will continue to shape American society.
Technology, especially the rapid evolution of communication and interaction, is another defining generational factor. Baby Boomers witnessed the dramatic expansion of television, fundamentally altering lifestyles and global connectivity. Generation X grew up alongside the computer revolution, and Millennials came of age during the internet boom.
What distinguishes Generation Z is that these technological advancements have been integral to their lives from the beginning. The iPhone launched in 2007, when the oldest Gen Z individuals were around 10 years old. By their teenage years, mobile devices, Wi-Fi, and high-speed cellular service were the primary means for young Americans to access the internet. Social media, constant online access, and on-demand entertainment are innovations Millennials adapted to, but for those born after 1996, these are the baseline.
The full implications of growing up in an “always-on” technological environment are still emerging. Recent research indicates significant shifts in youth behaviors, attitudes, and lifestyles – both positive and negative – among those who have come of age in this era. It remains to be seen whether these are lasting generational traits or simply characteristics of adolescence that will diminish as they mature. Tracking this generation over time is crucial.
Pew Research Center is not alone in establishing an analytical distinction between Millennials and Gen Z. Others have presented valid arguments for slightly earlier or later cutoff points. Future data collection may clarify a more precise delineation. However, it’s likely that historical, technological, behavioral, and attitudinal data will reveal a continuum across generations rather than a sharp threshold. Historically, variations within generations can be as significant as those between generations. The youngest and oldest members within a generation may share more in common with adjacent generations than with each other. This highlights that generations are diverse and complex groups, not simplistic stereotypes.
Looking ahead, Pew Research Center will continue to expand our generational research. Recently, we released a report examining the views of Generation Z on key social and political issues and comparing them to older generations. While Gen Z’s views are still developing and subject to change as they age and as world events unfold, this initial analysis offers valuable insights into how Gen Z may shape the future political landscape.
In the coming weeks, we will publish demographic analyses comparing Millennials to previous generations at similar life stages to assess whether Millennial demographic, economic, and household patterns continue to diverge from predecessors. Additionally, we will expand on our research into teen technology use by exploring the daily lives, aspirations, and pressures faced by today’s teenagers.
However, we maintain caution about making definitive projections about a generation that is still young. For Gen Z turning 18, Donald Trump is the first U.S. president they have significant memory of. Just as the political contrast between George W. Bush and Barack Obama shaped the political discourse for Millennials, the current political environment may similarly influence Gen Z’s attitudes and engagement, though the specifics remain uncertain. While current events are important, the technologies, debates, and events that will truly define Generation Z are likely still on the horizon.
We are committed to studying this generation as they transition into adulthood. We will continue to use generations as a lens to understand societal change, recognizing that they are analytical tools rather than labels that oversimplify group differences.
Note: This article is an updated version of a post originally published on March 1, 2018, announcing Pew Research Center’s adoption of 1996 as the endpoint for the Millennial generation.
