Caught Between Two Generations

Caught Between Two Generations

Comparing Demographic Classifications: Millennials vs. Generation Z

Can you imagine what it would have been like without the invention of smartphones? Maybe you don’t have to imagine it because you lived it. Maybe you wouldn’t dare imagine it because it’s all you’ve ever known. How about laptops or iPods or even tablets? Do you remember when they first were introduced or did they already exist?

I’m one of the people that grew up while all this amazing technology was just starting out. I was part of a generation that learned how to use technology as it came out. For the longest time, I had thought I was part of the Millennial demographic – my marketing professors had always told me and the class that we were Millennials – but I’ve come to realize that I may be part of Generation Z. You may be asking, “Why does it matter which generation you are associated with?” To that, I say that it’s important because there are certain characteristics, traits, and values associated with each generation. These defining facts help marketers understand consumers and to some extent, it also helps employers understand potential employees.

What is a Millennial?

To define what a millennial is we must first define what a generation is. A generation is defined as a group of individuals living during the same time period (Dictionary.com) Classifying people into generations has been very helpful for business, marketing, and research purposes. In total there have been about 10 generations:

(Chart courtesy of CareerPlanner.com)

As seen in the chart, Millennials are classified as the group of people born between the years of 1981 and 1995 – some sources extend the range to include people born until the year 2000. Millennials can also be referred to as Generation Y or Generation Me. On the positive side, Millennials are considered very open-minded, confident, self-expressive and supportive of movements for equality for both minorities and the LGBTQ community. They have been given the Generation Me name because they tend to be lazy, narcissistic, unstable career wise and materialistic. Those part of the Millennial Generation learned technology as it was introduced and thus are pretty good with technology (Main).

Who is Generation Z?

Those classified as Generation Z loosely include the rest of the people born after 1995 – again some consider this generation to end around 2012. Generation Z is said to be the most diverse and multicultural generation in the United States. They make up about 25% of the American population and are 55% Caucasian, 24% Hispanic, 14% African American, and 4% Asian (Jenkins 2). People part of Generation Z are pragmatic, take fewer risks, are money conscious and very individualistic. They also tend to be excellent multitaskers, having multiple devices in use at once (Jenkins 1)

Generation Z like Millennials are tech savvy but unlike Millennials they are digital natives as they grew up with technology. Their parents gave them access to smartphones and tablets while they were very young. This fact I have seen first-hand. I have a seven-year gap between myself and my younger brother. His first phone was a Samsung Galaxy while my first phone was a slide up Samsung. I remember being very upset that he had instant access to such advanced technology.

(Pictures courtesy of Google)

I saw a commercial the other day that I feel really sums up the Generation Z character. It involves this young girl going about her day with her iPad Pro. She uses it for pictures, homework and chatting with her friends. At the end of the commercial, her neighbor asks her what she is doing on her computer to which she responds, “What’s a computer?”

(Video Courtesy of YouTube)

This commercial is very accurate or at least I think so. My younger brother is very good with his phone, he knows which apps to use to hack other apps to make them do certain things that he wants. He is also very connected to his phone, never putting it down for longer than 20 seconds. He even uses his phone for assignments and to study, these days they have electronic flashcards and quizzes you can use to practice material. He is a technology master until you hand him a computer. He can’t figure out how to create new word documents, format them and save them. I have asked some of his friends’ parents about this problem and they all seemed to have experienced something similar. Computers seem to be Generation Z’s number 1 enemy or at least of the younger part of the generation.

Millennials vs. Generation Z

Some key differences between the two generations:

·       Technology – Both generations know technology well but Generation Z is more dependent on it.

·       Higher Education – 71% of Millennials versus 64% of Generation Z have considered college after graduating from high school.

·       Social Interaction – Millennials have consistently gotten criticized for lacking interpersonal skills, Generation Z prefer in-person interactions and use applications that involve visuals as well as messengers (Instagram, Skype, FaceTime, and Snapchat)

Some key similarities between the two generations:

·       Company loyalty – Both generations have seen their parents lose jobs they have had for years and thus understand that company loyalty isn’t as important

·       Personal Development – Both Generations care about learning transferable skills that build their personal brands and can be used for their careers

Final Thoughts

After doing the research for both generations, I think I am a mixture of both generations. I grew up learning cursive and mobile phones were still being introduced. It was a different time when I initially got my first phone it was only for calling my parents in case of an emergency. Later I got text messages and then in high school, upgraded to a smartphone. I very much relate to millennials in that regard but on the other hand, I am very individualistic and am a master multitasker. I’m caught in the middle of two generations but I don’t mind.

Sources

1.     Apple. “IPad Pro - What's a computer - Apple.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 Nov. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQB2NjhJHvY.

2.     “Generation.” Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/generation.

3.     Jenkins, Ryan. (1) “15 Aspects That Highlight How Generation Z Is Different From Millennials.” Business 2 Community, 9 June 2015, www.business2community.com/social-data/15-aspects-that-highlight-how-generation-z-is-different-from-millennials-01244940.

4.     Jenkins, Ryan. (2) “Who Is Generation Z: Understanding What Matters Most To The Post-Millennial Generation.” Ryan Jenkins Next Generation Catalyst, Speaker & Blogger, Proof Industries, 6 Apr. 2015, blog.ryan-jenkins.com/2015/06/04/who-is-generation-z-understanding-what-matters-most-to-the-post-millennial-generation.

5.     Main, Douglas. “Who Are the Millennials?” LiveScience, Purch, 8 Sept. 2017, www.livescience.com/38061-millennials-generation-y.html.

6.     Robinson, Michael T. “The Generations.” The Generations - Which Generation are You?, CareerPlanner.com, www.careerplanner.com/Career-Articles/Generations.cfm.