Boomers, Gen Z, Gen X: Do generation labels make any sense
This year, a new cohort has emerged: Gen Beta.
This generation, expected to span from 2025 to 2040, is already being discussed by demographers and sociologists, with the term gaining traction in English-language media.
But how meaningful are these generational labels and what do they really tell us about the people they define?
'They are more of a popular science category,' says generational researcher Rudiger Maas, author of the book Konflikt der Generationen (Generational Conflict).
Sociologist and youth researcher Klaus Hurrelmann says: 'The classifications have become very common in marketing and advertising, but also in science.'
Boomers and millennials
A new generation emerges on the scene roughly every 15 years: the numerous and self-confident baby boomers – those born after World War II up until 1964, were followed by Gen X, for people born from 1965 to 1979.
Gen Y, also known as the millennials, from 1980 to 1994, or sometimes seen as those born until the end of the 1990s, depending on the classification.
They were the first generation not to experience the East-West conflict during their formative teenage years, but they did experience the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001 and the financial crisis.
Those born between 1995 and 2010 belong to Gen Z, a group often stereotyped as having a poor work ethic. However, it has been reported that Gen Z's approach to work is shaped by their values, priorities and desire for work-life balance.
Perceptions of 'laziness' may, in fact, be rooted in generational misunderstandings rather than reality.
Participants chant slogans during a climate strike demonstration organised by the international movement Fridays for Future. Photo: EBRAHIM NOROOZI/AP
Adhering to generational classifications arbitrary
Of course, the classifications are somewhat arbitrary – children born at the beginning of this year are no different than those born at the end of 2024.
'It's more like the zodiac signs,' says Maas. In other words – some people put stock into this – and others not.
In addition, phenomena are sometimes associated with a particular age group, even though they are not characteristic of it as a whole.
Maas cites the equation of Gen Z with Fridays for Future and sustainability. A study by his Institute for Generation Research showed that only about 15% of young people identified with their so-called generation.
Wars and technical innovations shape personalityHowever, it is undisputed that there are generational differences.
This can be seen in everyday things: older people ring doorbells instead of sending a WhatsApp message telling a person they are visiting that they are 'downstairs.'
And they like to make phone calls often – instead of sending voice messages.
'The core idea of age cohorts is plausible,' says Hurrelmann in an interview with dpa. 'Wars, upheavals, technical innovations leave traces in people's personalities, and this is especially true in adolescence, when people are shaped for their entire lives. Of course, everyone is unique, but there are also many similarities.'
Those who went through puberty around 2020 were very strongly influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, for example.
Are today's teenagers a 'coronavirus generation?
'Studies show that this has led to considerable uncertainty. You could almost speak of a 'coronavirus generation.'' says Hurrelmann.
However, it is important to note that not everyone has had the same experiences.
'It makes a huge difference whether you experienced the coronavirus pandemic in a stable family home, where your parents earned well and were able to switch to working from home, or whether you had parents who had economic problems and were really thrown off course as a result.'
'And these differences are easily obscured by the cliched division into generations,' he adds.
Hurrelmann says generational labels such as baby boomers and Gen X, Y and Z have become very common, not only in marketing and advertising, but also in science. — BRITTA PEDERSEN/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
What's expected for Gen Beta
'You can always speak of a new generation when there is a noticeable change in circumstances,' said Maas, the generational researcher and book author.
The famous Gen Z – born between about 1995 and 2010 – is, for example, the first generation to have grown up with social media and cyberspace as a matter of course.
The consequences of this development can hardly be overestimated.
'Members of Gen Z touch their smartphones about 4,000 to 5,000 times a day and unlock them several hundred times,' says Maas. 'It's fair to say that never before in human history has an object been touched and used so often.'
Maas expects that those who have been labelled as Generation Beta will be even more digitalised and, above all, influenced by artificial intelligence (AI).
'The majority of them will work in jobs that don't even exist yet. They will encounter a labour market for which they provide all the experience, and no one to train them, because they are the first.'
It's also a world in which it will become increasingly difficult to know which data can be trusted. What is really true, what is AI-generated, and what is not?
Maas is convinced that 'AI will not make the reality of life easier and more convenient for today's babies, but much more complex and challenging.'
Hurrelmann believes that it is not yet possible to say much about Gen Beta with any certainty – except for one thing: It will in all likelihood be a very small generation, because the birth rate is currently falling. – dpa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
At least six dead due to crowd surge at temple
A crowd surge at a popular Hindu temple in northern India has left at least six people dead and dozens injured, local authorities said. The incident in the pilgrimage city of Haridwar occurred after a high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell on a temple path, triggering panic among the large crowd of devotees. Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior government official in Uttarakhand state where the incident happened, confirmed the deaths and said worshippers scrambled for safety following the incident. Some 29 people were injured, according to Haridwar city's senior police official Pramendra Singh Doval. Thousands of pilgrims had gathered at the Mansa Devi hilltop temple, which is a major site for Hindu devotees, especially on weekends and festival days, local officials said. They were celebrating the holy month of Shravan. Someone in the crowd shouted about an electric current on the pathway around 9am. 'Since the path is narrow and meant only for foot traffic, confusion and panic spread instantly,' said local priest Ujjwal Pandit. 'A wall along the path is also suspected to have worsened the crowd bottleneck,' he added. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene and launched a rescue operation. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital, officials said. 'The situation is now under control,' Pandey said by phone from Haridwar. 'But the panic led to tragic consequences.' Although crowd surges at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, authorities are investigating what caused the overhead wire to collapse, and whether proper crowd management protocols were in place. The town of Haridwar draws millions of visitors each year. The Mansa Devi temple, which is accessible by cable car or foot, is a major pilgrimage site that draws thousands of visitors daily during Shravan. — AP
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Monks and volunteers offer respite
Long-festering tensions over territory escalated into armed conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, leading to dozens of deaths on both sides and displacing tens of thousands of people. It's a grim situation, but there is some light amid the darkness. On both sides of the border, some people are working around the destruction, intent on creating a safe space or finding normalcy. A temple in Thailand's northeastern province of Surin has something most of the country's 27,000 active Buddhist monasteries do not: a concrete bunker to shelter from bombs and shelling. The temple, which asked not to be identified by name because of safety concerns, is about 10km from the border with Cambodia. The temple's abbot, Phut Analayo, said the decision to build a bunker was made after a brief armed clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in May inflamed relations. Construction was speedy because the bunker is made from large precast concrete drainage pipes a little over a meter in diameter, protected by mounds of earth, metal frames and sheeting. It's divided into two tubular rooms, each about 4m long, and wired with electricity. There's a kitchen with a kettle, an electric rice cooker and basic cookware. It's a tight fit, but there is enough space for the temple's six monks and the dozen or so villagers who sleep there every night. He said his temple has ceased religious activities for now but that the remaining monks stayed out of concern for the monastery and the people it serves. Helping out: (From left) Chadaporn, Bunyaluck Duchanee and Yupin Potiracha packing goods for Thai residents who fled their homes. — AP 'If I leave, the people who rely on us will lose their spirit,' he said. 'I'm scared too, but I'll just stay here for now, when I can.' Learning ballroom dancing is how some senior citizens in northeastern Thailand spend their leisure hours, but the latest conflict has motivated them to try to help some of the thousands of people displaced by fighting. About a dozen members of the Ballroom Dance for Health of the Elderly of Surin Province club went Saturday to a shelter housing about 1,000 evacuees, where they handed out clothes, toiletries, blankets and pillows. Retired civil servant Chadaporn Duchanee, the ballroom teacher, initiated the project. The 62-year-old posted on Facebook about the donation she made on Thursday, and her pupils proved happy to participate, too. 'We want to help, said Chadaporn. 'Everyone left in a hurry, without bringing their belongings, just trying to escape the line of fire, so they fled empty handed.' It looks just like your typical roadside stall found commonly all over South-East Asia, but this one seems very well-provisioned. Also, it's not selling anything, even though there are boxes of bottled water, plastic bags filled with fruit and vegetables and the occasional packet of instant noodles. It is there to solicit donations of food and other essentials to give to evacuees fleeing fighting. It also gives handouts to members of the armed forces headed toward the front lines. This pop-up operation is at the border of Siem Reap, home to Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex, and Oddar Meanchey province – an active combat zone. Chhar Sin, a 28-year-old self-described youth volunteer, mans the stall. But even here, 100km from the border with Thailand, she senses people don't feel safe, as the streets seem emptier than usual. She and other volunteers, are spending the weekend collecting supplies from Cambodians to dole out to the less fortunate. 'For today and tomorrow, we are standing here waiting to give gifts to the people who are displaced from war zones and are seeking safety,' Chhar Sin said. When she woke up Saturday, Kim Muny, made the decision not to open her convenience store, but instead cook rice for members of the Cambodian military and fleeing civilians. 'Cambodians have a kind heart. When we heard that soldiers and displaced people needed help, we decided to help with an open heart,' said the 45-year-old after donating parcels of rice wrapped in banana leaves at the stall. 'We know our soldiers don't have time to cook, so we will do it for them.' — AP
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Boy, 6, sets record for identifying 65 foreign currencies in 1 minute
SEREMBAN: At just six years old, D. Devakshean made history by identifying 65 international currencies in a single minute — a feat that showcased his extraordinary talent. Thanks to this unique skill, his name has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the achievement of 'Most Foreign Currencies Identified by a Child in One Minute'. His mother, G. Devamalar, 37, from Negri Sembilan, said her son began showing interest in national flags when he was just one year old, and could already accurately identify and name the Malaysian flag. "From an early age, we could see his extraordinary abilities. "When we showed him pictures or flags, he remembered them quickly. So, from there, we started training him, and at the age of two, he set a record by identifying over 200 countries and cities. "His memory is truly exceptional—whatever we show him, he can remember. Not only flags and currency values but much more—he picks things up quickly," she told reporters after a certificate of recognition was presented by MBR representative V. Menaga to Devakshean here today. Devamalar said she and her husband, A. Devakumaran, 41, have always supported their only child's interests and development. She also said it took about a month of preparation to train Devakshean before applying for MBR recognition this year. "My son loves watching YouTube. So, we uploaded content such as lists of foreign currencies and the like to YouTube, and he learned on his own through that platform. "He rarely plays—he enjoys reading books and learning on his own. That's just his nature. We've never forced him—it's his passion," she said. Devamalar also hoped her son's extraordinary achievement would open doors to more opportunities, including possibly entering the Guinness World Records, and uncovering other potential areas that could be nurtured in the future. "Not many people know him yet. I hope that through media coverage, more people will learn about him and he will have opportunities to go further," she said. Meanwhile, Devakshean, who was born on Sept 10, 2019, said he loves the Malaysian flag as well as Mathematics, English, and Science, and aspires to become a firefighter. – BERNAMA
