Are Xennials a Micro-Generation?

[@HavaWM]

Wowsers! I was born in 1981 and have always struggled to find a “home” in either the GenX or Millennial label. I had never heard the word Xennial until now but now that I’ve heard it explained? ABSOLUTELY.

[@snatale4571]

Exactly, the "microgeneration" was made for a reason! People that argue these things don't pay attention, as the generational lines are moved all the time after the fact when they realize they weren't quite right.

[@idankoos4156]

Same.. .what have I in common with people born 1968 or born 1992...anything

[@idankoos4156]

Born 1980 here

[@kirstmlarson1]

I didn’t know this was a thing, and I wondered why I didn’t fit into either category! 😊 I was born in 1982, to older boomer parents. They were teachers, so we didn’t have much extra income. Our house didn’t get a computer until the late 1990’s, and I’ve never really gotten comfortable using them. I that a theory that socioeconomic factors can hold you back into a different generation simply because you aren’t participating as much with the middle class. Thanks for discussing this topic!!!!

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

I feel you!!!

[@WynterDragon]

I'm a 1980 baby and Xennial has always been a better fit for me than Gen X.

[@jenniferhanses]

Probably because by most measurements you're a Millennial anyway. The end of Gen X is '79. I've only ever seen one study that extended it to '80. Though you'd still be right on the cusp either way. But yeah, if your birthday is 198-- anything, you're a Millennial.

[@amyschmelzer6445]

Born in 1977, I claim Gen X if asked. My siblings are on the other side of the Millennial divide. I am not opposed to being grouped with Xennials with my sister and brother.

[@z0mb1e564]

Completely agree. I never framed it this way, but "Analog childhood and digital adolescence" is a great way to describe it. I went to college late so was with primarily millennial classmates. Also had many cousins who were solidly gen x. I relate to both groups but never feel fully a part of either for a lot of the reasons you list.

[@kristadavis2825]

My husband was born in 1984 and I was born in 1987. Our experiences were vastly different on certain areas but we also both feel closer to Gen X than Millennials.

[@lexidarling]

I’d say having labels for more specific periods of time doesn’t hurt anyone imo. As you said, culture and society change fast. In my case I am firmly a millennial, born in 1989, and my childhood experience is hugely distinct from someone born in, say, 1997. So I like that terms like “zillennial” exist to describe that pocket of time to emphasize that there is a difference between it and my era of millennial childhood.

[@bensabelhaus7288]

You mean X-Wing? We were born during the run of the original trilogy?

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Omg X- Wing is a great name! I have never heard this before!

[@Landoverse]

Love this. Or the Y-Wing of the X generation! Honestly the Star Wars span is the only justifiable reason to subdivide Gen X in my humble opinion😂 Proud b. 1980 here.

[@bensabelhaus7288]

I might be among the last of us too. Oct 30 81. Wife is May 82 and I say she's a transitional millennial. My sister is Nov 84 and Definitely more millennial like my 1987 brother who by millennial definition came of age around 2000 unlike me who was contemplating joining the Marines 2 years prior lol Sorry but 18 is of age, 13 is coming of age. Societal plans to market stuff to us failed, muahahaha! X-Men or Deadpools X-Force also works lol

[@brianthatweirdbarberguy]

the Oregon Trail generation; that's me too!

[@jenniferhanses]

Yes! That's the much better name. I can't help but roll my eyes when they try to make a portmanteau. Especially when they give the exact same name in audibility to the cusp at the other end of Millennials.

[@muffininorbit]

I agree with you, Xennials are a real thing. I’m an old millennial so I’m quite a bit closer in age to a lot of Xennials than I am to younger millennials. But I feel like it positions me to really be able to see the distinction. Especially when I frequently have things in common with people 10 years younger than me than I don’t with people only 4 or 5 years older. At the same time I’m old enough to remember X in their full nihilistic analog glory. And y’all are definitely more like us than like that.

[@edwardt7364]

It’s not a real thing, and gen X stops at 1979, no other generation has a sub generation

[@rachelchristian2925]

Thank you! Yay! I'm an early '83 baby, and I have never felt comfortable lumped in with the Millennials - I drank from a garden hose damnit, and I also grew up with only one TV in the house which had buttons. I just don't have all the experiences that characterise Gen X. Now this I can fit with. Also, we earned our 'X', thank you, leave us alone.

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

😊

[@z0mb1e564]

Oh god, I remember the first time we got cable. The "remote" was a box with 20 or so buttons, one for each channel, and it attached to the TV with what I assume was a coax cable. I distinctly remember the first time we got a TV larger than 30 inches and thought that was massive.

[@ladykoiwolfe]

This is interesting. I was born in 79 as well, but if having an analog adolescence is part of it, well I'm definitely Gen X. I didn't get that. I'm glad to have stayed running wild. Even after school was over I wound up running wild rather than settling down into a digital environment.

[@PlayJAKPlays]

I like the Nickname "The Nintendo Generation" and usually hear 1975-1985.

[@FirstNameLastName-wt5to]

I prefer the title “Oregon trail generation.”

[@jenniferhanses]

Yes!

[@robertthompson9122]

I was born in 1983 and I feel this so much! I had to beg my parents to get a PC and it was the mid to late 90's. I didn't get a cell phone till after high school and I was 18. Calling collect, pay phones and landlines were the only way to call anyone till I was 18. Going from analog to digital is so right. I remember thinking who would ever want to listen to MP3's? I thought they sounded tinny.

[@AwakesBeforeSun]

Cell phone!? I had to beg for pager, the answering machine in your pocket, in highschool. That was so hard as my mother said, "no, only drug dealers have pagers" when I got it I didn't realize what a pain in was to find a payphone that might work to check messages.

[@shommershabbots9862]

Xennial includes 84 if your older siblings are from 76-83

[@nataliemunoz8600]

1982 from Chile here! ❤🇨🇱💪

[@kuffkitten]

I am part of the micro-generation called Gen Jones between the older boomers and Gen X so I get this.

[@AwakesBeforeSun]

1982 here and yes totally part of Xennial. I love how the Millennials dog us, but have never had to use a rotary phone or know what it even is. Or had to ask a stranger for change for a payphone at 4am. when ending up down town at an abandoned wearhouse when when the race got raided by the PD.

[@Lucy-in9zy]

This is such a great explanation! Thanks

[@brianlacy8725]

1979 here as well and this is absolutely a thing.

[@jenniferpearce1052]

1:43 Negative impacts of Boomer and Silent Generation parents?! You mean the awesomeness of Boomer and Silent Generation parents! I had one of each and they are the biggest blessing of my live. Loving and also loving enough to make sure I had life skills! I think later kids got the love and not the skills, leaving them anxious and insecure in their ability to manage on their own. As a massive overgeneralization of millions of people.

[@MrsWheezer]

She may be referring to the lack of mental health support that went hand in hand with Boomer and Silent Generation parents. I love my Boomer parents, but they never did think to nurture my mental health. My husband’s Silent Generation parents were similar but not quite as bad. Ex. When I was attacked by a pedophile as a 9 year old, the mental health support I got was an ice cream cone. My parents had no idea what to do nor even a thought about counseling. As a parent today, I’m so grateful that there is better knowledge in managing childhood trauma.

[@SoaringEagle26]

A few of my best friends are Xennials, including my husband who doesn’t “believe it”.. but yes microgens are real, and it all centers around the digital revolution. I, myself, am a solid millennial ‘92, with Gen X parents (late 60s, early 70s birth years)..waaaay different from the late 70s babies. Kudos to you all 🥰

[@evilsharkey8954]

I was born in 1979 and old enough to remember the term “generation Y”. Eff this “xennial” crap! There was already a word for us.

[@amyschmelzer6445]

Gen Y is a synonym for Millenial. Born in 1977, I remember it too.

[@MedalionDS9]

Yeah Gen Y was the proto-name for Millennials... do you consider yourself a Millennial? 1979 would make you still technically 2nd last of the Gen X'ers if you don't subscribe to the Xennial belief then.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@MedalionDS9 I was considered Gen Y until they gave Millennials their name and set the cut off after I was born. “Xennial” appeared many years later. I don’t fit with Millennials or Gen X, but the term “xennial” is stupid.

[@MedalionDS9]

@@evilsharkey8954 No it isn't, it literally an amalgum of both X and millennial. Your aversion to the word seems to be more of the issue than the definition. If you want to be identified as a millennial, that's your thing... these are just dumb categories that are not hard and fast rules. Just because a definition appears later doesn't necessarily make it invalid other than "I wasn't used to hearing that growing up, there it is doesn't exist to me" which is a sign of what kids call being a "boomer"... is more of a mindset than a designation of generation.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@MedalionDS9 The definitions changed.

[@amygilmore5806]

I would include 1984. I feel more like xennial.

[@astridlove2327]

lol I was just describing this micro generation to my gen alpha daughter the other day. Her response “that’s not even a thing, I have never heard of that before” so I had to give her a description of this “micro generation” because she asked me if I was gen x or millennial bc she said I didn’t seem like either haha I told her we’re not !! But one thing I did say was you don’t see a ton about this online with the “generational wars” because to be honest xennials doing not care!! 🤣 at least not in the sense that it seems everyone else does. Most xennials are just making neutral content like this or about our amazing generation of music 🤘🏻 I did tell her that many of us were left to our own devices and raised ourselves. We are also the generation with the most addiction issues, at least in my experience. I work in the field and the majority of people I come across in treatment were born between 79-86. It was just an awkward time for us like this video pretty much explains. I guess one can say we fell between the cracks lol I ended my generational “lesson” with my daughter by telling her she can spot a xennial by their disposition towards life. A more hopeful, resilient, upbeat attitude that stemmed from living in hell and realizing that they don’t have to anymore. The work ethics but remembering how to have fun like reverting back to child like mentality. I feel like we are the generation that bridges a gap between gen x and millenials, millenials and gen z. at least for me, i dont look at it like we are opposing generations more like "all generations have something to teach and something to learn"

[@thegoldmine4111]

I'm December of 76, and I feel like I'm absolutely an elder Xennial.

[@jenniferhanses]

There is definitely a cusp generation since the end of Gen X was so defined by technology, as is most of the Millennial experience.

[@paul.1337]

As a Xennial (apparently) I'm always amazed when people younger than me don't know how to use technology. And I mean taking into account socioeconomic factors.

[@z0mb1e564]

Yeah, we grew up when you had to figure it out. By the time the later millennials were born, technology became much more user friendly so they don't actually know how it works.

[@thomgri]

Its like saying the jones gen never existed😂

[@SirPhilosopher]

I love the concept. And you’re right about everything. I just don’t like the name. Call me a premillennial 😂

[@thomgri]

Basically at the change of generations, there is always a micro gen.

[@larrym.johnson9219]

Im Gen X and I don't see anything wrong with your term.

[@bowstodeer]

The Xennial microgeneration extends at least a couple years further into the 80s. If you ever used DOS, you may be an Xennial.

[@MedalionDS9]

1977-1983 was what I heard... which is exactly the Star Wars trilogy span interestingly

[@AwakesBeforeSun]

If you never used a rotary phone your not..

[@bowstodeer]

​@@AwakesBeforeSun That's a good one to add to the list! Western Electric manufactured them from 1950 - 1986, so some people were still using them in the 90s, although some people had probably already switched to push-button phones, which came out in November 1963.

[@bowstodeer]

@@MedalionDS9 That would be convenient, but it should probably be through '85 or '86. The article about the "Oregon Trail Generation" (which is the Xennial microgeneration) applies to those born in the mid-80s as well (although, IIRC, the article didn't take that into account). Business Insider selected 1977-1985, which makes sense.

[@MedalionDS9]

@@bowstodeer I am willing to make that extension, but I am just going off what I originally learnt

[@CynthiaMoon23]

It’s not a mystery that late X and early Millennials have things in common. Why? Well, the biggest thing that divides these two groups from early X is that early X dealt very directly with the fallout of the cultural changes in the Sixties. Those evened out by 1975-ish.

[@MCPorter83]

Xenial fits my friends and I so much more than Gen X or Millenial alone.

[@tamarack1pines]

I was born in ‘78. My Sister was born in ‘82. Me and my sister are Xennials. A mix of Gen X and Millenial. lol

[@GB-pj2gm]

I'm 100 percent Xennial. I was born 1981 and never fully felt Millennial or Genx. I can't relate completely with older Genx and definitely not with younger Millenials. We are like the middle child. 😂 Forgotten

[@marcus813]

I was born in 1981 and while I'm an elder millennial, I don't share all of the experiences of the millennials who are Zillennials given that my childhood was solidly analog until I was about 14.

[@MedalionDS9]

I am a Xennial according to the many definition year ranges... and I have always struggled to feel more Gen X or Millennial for such a long time but that could just be me not wanting to belong to either generation entirely and why the Xennial thing feels like a cop-out to some people of either side

[@drekfletch]

I think people get too fixed on birth date, and ignore the broad cultural events that imprint on kids and teens. I've always thought of Millennials as having Myspace or Facebook in HS, with us Xennials getting those in college. And counting backwards from there.

[@jessicaf.1778]

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been telling people. Xennials is a loss generation according what I’ve been searching there’s two don’t know how much that’s true but I know for a fact, I’m not a millennial or generation Y. I am xennial💜

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

I think the biggest distinction for Xennials is that they were the children of boomers and not of the new generation just becoming adults- Gen X. Meaning we were raised very similar to Gen X either because the boomers had more kids or like my parents had them much later in life … I totally relate with the way Jenn kids were treated because my parents were from the same generation. Their parents were. But I also had rapidly developing technology… so while Gen Xers had an Atari for longer- I had one until the PC computer, Commodore 64, became more normal and then of course from there the computers just became insane now. I played outside most days and the video games were for rainy days … I laugh also because the same attitudes and phrases that come out of my husband’s parents and my parents mouths are so similar at times to our other Gen X friends rather than other millennial friends… well, depending on the age of the millennials… It seems like to me , some of the younger millennials- my sister-in-law- they were the babies of the boomers and treated completely different than the rest of the boomers kids… and the rest of the millennials were children of Gen Xers, once the 90s hit… Then we have this weird issue when millennials didn’t get married for a long time so most of Gen Z is Gen X Kids and only some millennial’s kids. My oldest, I believe, is at the tail end of Gen Z. But I think all the rest of my kids are generation Alpha. Usually generations will be a mix of the older generations still having kids and those kids are the younger siblings along with the next generation under the older generation growing up, getting married, and having their own kids… Now we are starting to have more solitary generations from only one generational set of parents and it’s creating monoculture ideals instead of the mingling that normally happens.

[@MrsWheezer]

A lot of Xennials are the ‘second family’ of divorced Boomer parents. So definitely different experiences there.

[@jenniferhanses]

Gen Z is almost exclusively Gen X's kids. Millennial gen starts in 1980 and runs to 1996, I think is where they usually cut it. I think it's the "too young to remember the twin towers and what happened after." At 4 you might have some memory of people reacting and TV coverage. So Gen X was 17 to 31 when Gen Z appeared. Millennials were 0 to 16. And while teen pregnancies are a thing, there's not that many of them. I'm sure there's younger Gen Zers at this point who have Millennial parents. They go until 2012. So by the end of that range, the oldest Millennials were 32 and the youngest were 16. But they're much more responsible for Gen Alpha, the generation being born now.

[@TheXennial79]

I approve. And Mr. Millennial couldn't deal because Mel's cant deal with anything.

[@Playaflydre]

83 baby here. Im definitely not a Millennial. My brother was born in 96 an we are nothing alike. An didnt grow up the same. He firmly grew up in soley digital world. I was in my teens with a beeper when he came along. We are not the same. Dont call me a Millennial. You might get punched in the mouth 🤣 😂

[@jillismyname]

Yes! I'm mid 1980 and feel more millennial values. My husband is late 1978 and feels solidly Gen X. There is definitely an interesting middle/overlap.

[@snatale4571]

Our generation was retroactively invented for a reason! We may have been born GenX, pushed into Millennials, and we clearly don't fit either!

[@jenniferhanses]

It's not a generation. You're still a Gen Xer or Millennial (don't know what side of the divide you're on). You're just also in this cusp group.

[@thomgri]

Wiki keeps changing shyte

[@thomgri]

Weke keeps changing shyte

[@diesel4338]

Im uncategorized...

[@BanFamilyVlogging]

This is meeeee #1982

[@skidmark6348]

You dont get to use that X. That is our generation and we made it mean something thanks.

[@ladykoiwolfe]

She and I are solidly part of gen X. If she feels a connection with millennials as well, let her have it. I man be able to say I'm part of that little subgen, but I don't feel any connection there. I earned my X just as much as you.

[@evilsharkey8954]

I don’t want the X! “Xennial” is a dreadful sounding word. They used to call us Generation Y.

[@ladykoiwolfe]

@@evilsharkey8954 that's millennials.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@ladykoiwolfeMillennials were still little pipsqueaks when the term arose. Millennials were coined later.

[@skidmark6348]

@@ladykoiwolfe To me i think there is less distinction between generations as you get past GenX.

[@jewsrbad]

I don't want to be anything anymore. Everyone is shit.