My family is all grown and left the nest, and I suspect – well, I probably know – that I am a little out of touch with the youngsters of today.

I keep reading references to Millennials and Gen Z, and I haven’t a clue who they are, or why they have labels at all. Apparently, they are labelled as such because: “it provides a way to express their distinct life experiences shaped by major events, like 9/11, the digital revolution, or by climate changes - and share cultural touchstones”.

So, back to Gen Z

According to what I read, Generation Z, often shortened to Gen Z and informally labelled as Zoomers, follows Millennials and precedes Generation Alpha. Gen Z were born in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s and are “digital natives”, the first generation to grow up with information and communication technology. They are tech-savvy and a generation known for their online habits, focus on social issues and mental health awareness, and a pragmatic approach to careers, often seeking workplaces shaped by global events.

Before them were Millennials, or Gen Y, born roughly between 1981 and 1997, also known as “digital natives”, and are said to make up approximately 23 percent of the world’s population. My own kids are in this category. They have surpassed Baby Boomers as the largest group, and they will remain a significant part of the adult population for many years to come.

Which led me to look at Gen A, or Generation Alpha, born in the 2010’s to 2025, who succeed Gen Z, and are the first generation born entirely in the 21st century, raised in a fully digital world with screens, AI, and streaming as second nature, making them the most tech-immersed, diverse, and globally connected generation. Next will be Generation Beta - some of whom aren’t even born yet - and will probably be savvy with all the above, plus things not even invented yet.

Baby Boomers

I myself am a Baby Boomer, born between 1946-1964 - sometimes known as “Boomers” for heaven’s sake - said to resist or mistrust “tecky” stuff because of generational habits, maybe not really understanding it, or are stressed by so much rapid change. We have been around the block, as they say, and have watched each generation label itself differently. Way back was “The Greatest Generation” sometimes known as “The G.I. Generation”, born 1901–1924; who came of age during WWI/Great Depression, then came “The Silent Generation” born around 1928–1945; who lived through WWII and post-war era, who were taught to be seen and not heard during troubled times, although they later led significant movements like the Civil Rights Movement and developed the powerful force of rock n’ roll.

Social Labelling

But labelling comes in other forms too, including social labelling. Not all teenagers are “delinquents”, nor should that young man across the street be labelled as a “thief” just because he was seen in the company of other known criminals. And if a person is late for an appointment, they shouldn’t be labelled as “irresponsible” and have that term applied to everything they do in the future.

Labelling is said to be the key to identifying your identity, and I am happy to be bracketed as a “Boomer” – they are said to be a generation with confidence and a strong work ethic, who have greatly influenced their nation's culture, and believe that hard work makes a difference.

But we still write shopping lists on bits of paper.