08-23-2020, 08:27 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2020, 05:16 PM by RELFantastic.)
In my opinion, I feel generations aren’t very clear cut and don’t evolve overnight. I don’t think people who are 15-17 years apart will share the exact same generation traits. I believe in 8 year solid cohorts, where the years that make up the quintessential part of the generation can be found. For Baby Boomers, it’s 1950-1957, for Gen X, its 1968-1975, for Millennials it’s 1986-1993, and for Gen Z, its 2004-2011. Everything else in between is a spectrum transitioning from one generation to the next. With these spectrums, every year, traits from the previous generation start to die off and new traits start to form, which would help lay the foundation for the next generation. With that out of the way, Let’s begin:
Soomer Spectrum 1940-1949 Classes of 1958-1967
Last cohort to have any Silent traits, and the first to have any Boomer traits. They entered elementary school after World War II. They were all born after the introduction of the television. The first half were born during World War II and the last four years were born during the Baby Boom. They are the 40s babies, were the pioneers of the Hippie Movement, and were the primary group drafted during the Vietnam War. They are the children of Greatests and Losts.
Pure Boomers 1950-1957 Classes of 1968-1975
Only cohort to have full Boomer traits. They entered elementary school after the Vietnam War began, primarily grew up during the rise of standard television, and entered high school after the Kennedy Assassination. The oldest year came of age in the year 1968, one of the most polarizing years in US history. The first half played a role in the Hippie Movement, as there was still a draft age, while the last couple of years came of age afterwards, but primarily spent most of their high school years and adolescence before the Disco era began. They are the children of Gilents and Greatests.
Jones Spectrum 1958-1967 Classes of 1976-1985
Last cohort to have any Boomer traits, and the first to have any X traits. They entered elementary school after MLK’s I have a dream speach, which ended segregation, and were the first to grow up with Saturday morning cartoons, and during the rise of color television. They graduated high school after the release of the Apple I, The first half played a big role in the 1980 election. The first seven years were primary demographic during the Disco/Punk Era, as most of the cohort spent their adolescence during that time, with the last three years spending most of their adolescence during the MTV Era. They are the children of Gilents and Silents.
Pure X 1968-1975 Classes of 1986-1993 give or take late 1967 to mid 1975
Only cohort to have full X traits. They entered elementary school after Nixon’s second term election, which lead to his resignation. They were the first years to grow up with the first blockbusters such as Jaws, the first major gaming consoles such as the Atari 2600, and the first movie franchises such as Star Wars. They graduated high school after the Challenger Disaster, but before the launch of the World Wide Web, and spent at least most of their adolescence before the USSR Collapse. They spent most of their high school years and adolescence in the MTV era and were the primary demographic. They are the children of Soomers and Silents.
Xennial Spectrum 1976-1985 Classes of 1994-2003 give or take late 1975 to mid 1985
Last cohort to have any X traits, and the first to have any Millennial traits. They entered elementary school after Reagan was elected, which made our society more right leaning, they primarily grew up with gaming post-1983 with consoles such as the NES and SEGA Master System. The first half spent most of their high school years and adolescence during the Grunge Era, and the second half during the Y2K era. They all graduated high school after the release of the World Wide Web, but spent at least most of it before 9/11. They were the first years to serve in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. They are the children of Soomers and Baby Boomers.
Pure Millennials 1986-1993 Classes of 2004-2011 give or take late 1985 to mid 1993
Only cohort to have full Millennial traits. They all entered elementary school after the launch of the first Nickelodeon cartoons, which lead to the rise of cable kids programming, and grew up during the Disney Renaissance. They primarily spent their childhoods after the launch of the World Wide Web, and spent at least most of their adolescence and high school years in a post-9/11 world. They were the cohort hit the most by the Great Recession. They began high school after Y2K, and graduated after the release of MySpace and Facebook. They are the children of Baby Boomers and Generation Jones.
Zillennial Spectrum 1994-2003 Classes of 2012-2021 give or take late 1993 to mid 2003
Last cohort to have any Millennial traits, and the first to have any Z traits. They entered elementary school after Columbine, which lead to kids becoming more sheltered. They primarily spent their childhoods in a post-9/11 world, witnessing our world becoming more mobilized. The first half were able to vote in the 2016 elections. They all spent most of their teens in the 2010s, which was half Gen Z and half Millennial culturally. They all graduated high school after smartphones surpassed flip phones in sales, but spent at least most of it before COVID-19. They are the children of Generation Jones and Generation X.
Pure Z 2004-2011 Classes of 2022-2029 give or take late 2003 to mid 2011
Only cohort to have full Z traits. They all entered elementary school after Obama was elected, which made our society more left leaning, and after the Great Recession ended, but before Trump was elected. They spent at least most of their childhood and elementary school years after smartphones surpassed flip phones in sales, but before COVID-19, and they will be spending at least most of their high school years and adolescence in the post-COVID-19 world of the 2020s. They are the children of Generation X and Xennials.
Zalpha Spectrum 2012-2021 Classes of 2030-2039 give or take late 2011 to mid 2021
Last cohort to have any Z traits and the first to have Alpha traits. They entered elementary school after Trump was elected and will primarily spend their childhoods in a post-COVID-19 world. They will graduate high school in the 2030s. They are the children of Xennials and Millennials.
There is also a 18 year patterns between Soomers, Jones, Xennials, and Zillennials. These spectrums first come of age during a tech boom, then an election, then a crisis, then a culture shift, then a major historic crisis.
The first three years tend to come of age after, or spend most of their adolescence after a technology boom.
1940: graduated high school after the first digital phone line is developed.
1958: graduated high school after the release of the Apple I.
1976: graduated high school after the launch of the World Wide Web.
1994: graduated high school after smartphones surpassed feature phones in sales.
1941: graduated high school after the first automatic camera is released.
1959: graduated high school after the release of the P E T.
1977: graduated high school the year Windows 95 was released.
1995: graduated high school the year tablets surpassed PCs in sales.
1942: spent most of high school after the first digital phone line is developed, and graduated after the first laser is built.
1960: spent most of high school after the release of the Apple I, and graduated the year the laserdisc is released.
1978: spent most of high school after the launch of the World Wide Web, and graduated after the release of the Motorola StarTac.
1996: spent most of high school after smartphones surpassed feature phones in sales, and graduated after the release of the Samsung Gear.
The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh years tend to come of age before an election, during a major crisis, or before the next generation’s culture is in full swing.
1943: graduated high school after Kennedy was elected.
1961: graduated high school before the Iran Hostage Crisis.
1979: graduated high school before Clinton’s Impeachment.
1997: graduated high school after the rise of ISIS and before gay marriage was federally legalized.
1944: graduated high school before the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1962: graduated high school before Reagan was elected.
1980: graduated high school before the debut of TRL and Columbine.
1998: graduated high school before Trump was elected.
1945: graduated high school before MLK’s I Have a Dream Speech and the Kennedy Assassination.
1963: graduated high school before the debut of MTV.
1981: graduated high school before Y2K.
1999: graduated high school before the US-China Trade War began and Parkland.
1946: graduated high school after the Beetles arrived in America.
1964: graduated high school after AIDS started.
1982: graduated high school before Bush was elected.
2000: graduated high school before the release of TikTok.
The last three years tend to either spend most of their adolescence after a new president is elected, during another election, before a crisis, or come of age before or after a major crisis.
1947: graduated high school after the first American combat troops arrive in Vietnam.
1965: spent most of high school after Reagan was elected.
1983: graduated high school before 9/11.
2001: spent most of high school after Trump was elected, and graduated before COVID-19.
1948: spent most of high school after the Kennedy Assassination.
1966: graduated high school after the NCI announced they found the cause of AIDS.
1984: graduated high school after 9/11 happened.
2002: graduated high school after COVID-19 started, and after Trump’s impeachment.
1949: graduated high school before the MLK Assassination.
1967: graduated high school before the Challenger Disaster, but after the 1984 election.
1985: spent most of high school after Bush was elected, but before 9/11, graduated after the Iraq Invasion.
2003: spent most of high school before COVID-19, will graduate after the upcoming 2020 election, and could possibly be the last to graduate before the pandemic ends.
And finally, here’s how this theory would work well with the early, core, and late model:
Soomer Spectrum 1940-1949 (Classes of 1958-1967)
Baby Boomers: 1945-1962 (Classes of 1963-1980)
Early Boomers: 1945-1949 (Classes of 1963-1967)
Core Boomers: 1950-1957 (Classes of 1968-1975)
Late Boomers: 1958-1962 (Classes of 1976-1980)
Jones Spectrum: 1958-1967 (Classes of 1976-1985 give or take to mid 1967)
Generation X: 1963-1980 (Classes of 1981-1998 give or take to mid 1980)
Early X: 1963-1967 (Classes of 1981-1985 give or take to mid 1967)
Core X: 1968-1975 (Classes of 1986-1993 give or take late 1967-mid 1975)
Late X: 1976-1980 (Classes of 1994-1998 give or take late 1975-mid 1980)
Xennial Spectrum: 1976-1985 (Classes of 1994-2003 give or take late 1975-mid 1985)
Millennials: 1981-1998 (Classes of 1999-2016 give or take late 1980-mid 1998)
Early Millennials: 1981-1985 (Classes of 1999-2003 give or take late 1980-mid 1985)
Core Millennials: 1986-1993 (Classes of 2004-2011 give or take late 1985-mid 1993)
Late Millennials: 1994-1998 (Classes of 2012-2016 give or take late 1993-mid 1998)
Zillennial Spectrum: 1994-2003 (Classes of 2012-2021 give or take late 1993-mid 2003)
Generation Z: 1999-2016 (Classes of 2017-2034 give or take late 98-mid 16)
Early Z: 1999-2003 (Classes of 2017-2021 give or take late 1998-mid 2003)
Core Z: 2004-2011 (Classes of 2022-2029 give or take late 2003-mid 2011)
Late Z: 2012-2016 (Classes of 2030-2034 give or take late 2011-mid 2016)
[i]Zalpha Spectrum: 2012-2021 (Classes of 2030-2039 give or take late 2011-mid 2021)[/i]
Soomer Spectrum 1940-1949 Classes of 1958-1967
Last cohort to have any Silent traits, and the first to have any Boomer traits. They entered elementary school after World War II. They were all born after the introduction of the television. The first half were born during World War II and the last four years were born during the Baby Boom. They are the 40s babies, were the pioneers of the Hippie Movement, and were the primary group drafted during the Vietnam War. They are the children of Greatests and Losts.
Pure Boomers 1950-1957 Classes of 1968-1975
Only cohort to have full Boomer traits. They entered elementary school after the Vietnam War began, primarily grew up during the rise of standard television, and entered high school after the Kennedy Assassination. The oldest year came of age in the year 1968, one of the most polarizing years in US history. The first half played a role in the Hippie Movement, as there was still a draft age, while the last couple of years came of age afterwards, but primarily spent most of their high school years and adolescence before the Disco era began. They are the children of Gilents and Greatests.
Jones Spectrum 1958-1967 Classes of 1976-1985
Last cohort to have any Boomer traits, and the first to have any X traits. They entered elementary school after MLK’s I have a dream speach, which ended segregation, and were the first to grow up with Saturday morning cartoons, and during the rise of color television. They graduated high school after the release of the Apple I, The first half played a big role in the 1980 election. The first seven years were primary demographic during the Disco/Punk Era, as most of the cohort spent their adolescence during that time, with the last three years spending most of their adolescence during the MTV Era. They are the children of Gilents and Silents.
Pure X 1968-1975 Classes of 1986-1993 give or take late 1967 to mid 1975
Only cohort to have full X traits. They entered elementary school after Nixon’s second term election, which lead to his resignation. They were the first years to grow up with the first blockbusters such as Jaws, the first major gaming consoles such as the Atari 2600, and the first movie franchises such as Star Wars. They graduated high school after the Challenger Disaster, but before the launch of the World Wide Web, and spent at least most of their adolescence before the USSR Collapse. They spent most of their high school years and adolescence in the MTV era and were the primary demographic. They are the children of Soomers and Silents.
Xennial Spectrum 1976-1985 Classes of 1994-2003 give or take late 1975 to mid 1985
Last cohort to have any X traits, and the first to have any Millennial traits. They entered elementary school after Reagan was elected, which made our society more right leaning, they primarily grew up with gaming post-1983 with consoles such as the NES and SEGA Master System. The first half spent most of their high school years and adolescence during the Grunge Era, and the second half during the Y2K era. They all graduated high school after the release of the World Wide Web, but spent at least most of it before 9/11. They were the first years to serve in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. They are the children of Soomers and Baby Boomers.
Pure Millennials 1986-1993 Classes of 2004-2011 give or take late 1985 to mid 1993
Only cohort to have full Millennial traits. They all entered elementary school after the launch of the first Nickelodeon cartoons, which lead to the rise of cable kids programming, and grew up during the Disney Renaissance. They primarily spent their childhoods after the launch of the World Wide Web, and spent at least most of their adolescence and high school years in a post-9/11 world. They were the cohort hit the most by the Great Recession. They began high school after Y2K, and graduated after the release of MySpace and Facebook. They are the children of Baby Boomers and Generation Jones.
Zillennial Spectrum 1994-2003 Classes of 2012-2021 give or take late 1993 to mid 2003
Last cohort to have any Millennial traits, and the first to have any Z traits. They entered elementary school after Columbine, which lead to kids becoming more sheltered. They primarily spent their childhoods in a post-9/11 world, witnessing our world becoming more mobilized. The first half were able to vote in the 2016 elections. They all spent most of their teens in the 2010s, which was half Gen Z and half Millennial culturally. They all graduated high school after smartphones surpassed flip phones in sales, but spent at least most of it before COVID-19. They are the children of Generation Jones and Generation X.
Pure Z 2004-2011 Classes of 2022-2029 give or take late 2003 to mid 2011
Only cohort to have full Z traits. They all entered elementary school after Obama was elected, which made our society more left leaning, and after the Great Recession ended, but before Trump was elected. They spent at least most of their childhood and elementary school years after smartphones surpassed flip phones in sales, but before COVID-19, and they will be spending at least most of their high school years and adolescence in the post-COVID-19 world of the 2020s. They are the children of Generation X and Xennials.
Zalpha Spectrum 2012-2021 Classes of 2030-2039 give or take late 2011 to mid 2021
Last cohort to have any Z traits and the first to have Alpha traits. They entered elementary school after Trump was elected and will primarily spend their childhoods in a post-COVID-19 world. They will graduate high school in the 2030s. They are the children of Xennials and Millennials.
There is also a 18 year patterns between Soomers, Jones, Xennials, and Zillennials. These spectrums first come of age during a tech boom, then an election, then a crisis, then a culture shift, then a major historic crisis.
The first three years tend to come of age after, or spend most of their adolescence after a technology boom.
1940: graduated high school after the first digital phone line is developed.
1958: graduated high school after the release of the Apple I.
1976: graduated high school after the launch of the World Wide Web.
1994: graduated high school after smartphones surpassed feature phones in sales.
1941: graduated high school after the first automatic camera is released.
1959: graduated high school after the release of the P E T.
1977: graduated high school the year Windows 95 was released.
1995: graduated high school the year tablets surpassed PCs in sales.
1942: spent most of high school after the first digital phone line is developed, and graduated after the first laser is built.
1960: spent most of high school after the release of the Apple I, and graduated the year the laserdisc is released.
1978: spent most of high school after the launch of the World Wide Web, and graduated after the release of the Motorola StarTac.
1996: spent most of high school after smartphones surpassed feature phones in sales, and graduated after the release of the Samsung Gear.
The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh years tend to come of age before an election, during a major crisis, or before the next generation’s culture is in full swing.
1943: graduated high school after Kennedy was elected.
1961: graduated high school before the Iran Hostage Crisis.
1979: graduated high school before Clinton’s Impeachment.
1997: graduated high school after the rise of ISIS and before gay marriage was federally legalized.
1944: graduated high school before the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1962: graduated high school before Reagan was elected.
1980: graduated high school before the debut of TRL and Columbine.
1998: graduated high school before Trump was elected.
1945: graduated high school before MLK’s I Have a Dream Speech and the Kennedy Assassination.
1963: graduated high school before the debut of MTV.
1981: graduated high school before Y2K.
1999: graduated high school before the US-China Trade War began and Parkland.
1946: graduated high school after the Beetles arrived in America.
1964: graduated high school after AIDS started.
1982: graduated high school before Bush was elected.
2000: graduated high school before the release of TikTok.
The last three years tend to either spend most of their adolescence after a new president is elected, during another election, before a crisis, or come of age before or after a major crisis.
1947: graduated high school after the first American combat troops arrive in Vietnam.
1965: spent most of high school after Reagan was elected.
1983: graduated high school before 9/11.
2001: spent most of high school after Trump was elected, and graduated before COVID-19.
1948: spent most of high school after the Kennedy Assassination.
1966: graduated high school after the NCI announced they found the cause of AIDS.
1984: graduated high school after 9/11 happened.
2002: graduated high school after COVID-19 started, and after Trump’s impeachment.
1949: graduated high school before the MLK Assassination.
1967: graduated high school before the Challenger Disaster, but after the 1984 election.
1985: spent most of high school after Bush was elected, but before 9/11, graduated after the Iraq Invasion.
2003: spent most of high school before COVID-19, will graduate after the upcoming 2020 election, and could possibly be the last to graduate before the pandemic ends.
And finally, here’s how this theory would work well with the early, core, and late model:
Soomer Spectrum 1940-1949 (Classes of 1958-1967)
Baby Boomers: 1945-1962 (Classes of 1963-1980)
Early Boomers: 1945-1949 (Classes of 1963-1967)
Core Boomers: 1950-1957 (Classes of 1968-1975)
Late Boomers: 1958-1962 (Classes of 1976-1980)
Jones Spectrum: 1958-1967 (Classes of 1976-1985 give or take to mid 1967)
Generation X: 1963-1980 (Classes of 1981-1998 give or take to mid 1980)
Early X: 1963-1967 (Classes of 1981-1985 give or take to mid 1967)
Core X: 1968-1975 (Classes of 1986-1993 give or take late 1967-mid 1975)
Late X: 1976-1980 (Classes of 1994-1998 give or take late 1975-mid 1980)
Xennial Spectrum: 1976-1985 (Classes of 1994-2003 give or take late 1975-mid 1985)
Millennials: 1981-1998 (Classes of 1999-2016 give or take late 1980-mid 1998)
Early Millennials: 1981-1985 (Classes of 1999-2003 give or take late 1980-mid 1985)
Core Millennials: 1986-1993 (Classes of 2004-2011 give or take late 1985-mid 1993)
Late Millennials: 1994-1998 (Classes of 2012-2016 give or take late 1993-mid 1998)
Zillennial Spectrum: 1994-2003 (Classes of 2012-2021 give or take late 1993-mid 2003)
Generation Z: 1999-2016 (Classes of 2017-2034 give or take late 98-mid 16)
Early Z: 1999-2003 (Classes of 2017-2021 give or take late 1998-mid 2003)
Core Z: 2004-2011 (Classes of 2022-2029 give or take late 2003-mid 2011)
Late Z: 2012-2016 (Classes of 2030-2034 give or take late 2011-mid 2016)
[i]Zalpha Spectrum: 2012-2021 (Classes of 2030-2039 give or take late 2011-mid 2021)[/i]
