06-13-2021, 10:36 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-13-2021, 12:50 PM by RELFantastic.)
(06-07-2021, 03:09 PM)galaxy Wrote: A proposal for a Zillennial definition: those who are old enough to remember the onset of the 4T in 2008, but who also experienced the period of online school, which I believe will come to be remembered as a quintessential Z (or at least older-Z) experience.
That's people born from either mid-2001 or mid-2002 to 2004.
Those born in early 2001, myself (January 4) included, were part of the last cohort to graduate high school before the pandemic began, and are therefore the last unambiguous Millennials.*
Those born in late 2001 or early 2002 had only 2-3 months of online, tacked on to the end of an otherwise typical high school experience. So they're on the edge.
Late 2002 to probably around late 2004 is the true borderline zone.
Those who were born in 2005 or later have no memory at all of any time before the Crisis, and so are unambiguous Z.
*you could argue that the last unambiguous Millennials are the youngest ones who remember 9/11, probably born in 1998, but personally, I really doubt the significance of that event as a major generational marker. It's the "alienating event," corresponding to probably either WWI or the recession of 1920-1921. Though it looms large in people's memories, and there were a few big changes (such as the source of the name of the "Homeland Generation,") the reality is that everyday life in America wasn't really that especially different between 1999 and 2004. The difference between 2008 and 2013 is far more dramatic, with the current ongoing period of political realignment beginning with the 2008 election (analogous to 1968) and the social media/internet revolution taking place from roughly 2010 to 2015.
Eh Class of 2020 not being considered a cusp while Class of 2022 is seems like a stretch IMO. Being born after 9/11 and coming of age after COVID-19 started is hard to ignore, no offense. They may not be the start of Z, but they are definitely cusp.
Though late 2002-late 2004 as cusp (of what you proposed) would actually make Class of 2021 last Millennials, which I would be fine with.
Personally, I would go with either early 2001-early 2003 or late 2000-mid 2003.
Early 2001-early 2003 were born around 9/11, would have been 5-7 during the Great Recession, and would have been coming of age around the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe you can extend it slightly to late 2000-mid 2003.
Class of 2019 (b. 2000-2001) leans M for coming of age during Trump, Class of 2020 (b. 2001-2002) is 50/50 for coming of age during both Trump and COVID-19, and Class of 2021 (b. 2002-2003) leans Z for coming of age during COVID-19.
Class of 2018 (b. 1999-2000) would be last fully Millennial class, being born entirely during the second millennium as well as during Clinton, while Class of 2022 (b.2003-2004) will be first fully Homelander class, being born entirely after Homeland Security started as well as Iraq.