Silent Generation (1928-1945)
Also referred to as the “Traditionalists” or “The Lucky Few,” this category of persons grew up during the World War. They valued conformity, loyalty, hard work, and respect for authority.
Baby Boomers (1946-1964)
These are the immediate post-world war 2 fellows. Perhaps the war’s impact instilled in them the drive of being movers. They are associated with social movements like civil rights, women’s rights, and anti-war protests. They are often characterized as ambitious, competitive, and optimistic.
*Generation X* (1965-1980): Fortunate to behold the entry of the tech revolution, they are also referred to as the “Latchkey Generation” or the “MTV Generation.” They witnessed the transition from analog to digital technologies, and are known for their terrific sense of independence, skepticism, and entrepreneurial drive.
Millennials(1981-1996) or Generation Y” or the “Echo Boomers.”
These guys came of age during the rise of the internet and globalization. They are often depicted as tech-savvy, diverse, and socially conscious. However, in these guys we started seeing a delay in major life milestones such as marriage and homeownership due to economic factors.
Generation Z (1997-2012)
Sometimes called the “iGen” or “Digital Natives,” here we come face to face with persons who graced a world shaped by social media, smartphones, and instant communication. These guys are known for pushing the boundaries of virtual realities.
Generation Alpha (2013-2025)
Behold the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century. Hitting the ground running with technology as an integral part of their lives from infancy, they are believed to be emerging, but likely to be influenced by trends in technology, education, and parenting styles. Expected to be highly adaptive, tech-savvy, and globally connected from a young age.
Identifying our generation, romanticising the past or peeping into history to fathom the gaps and beauty of the generations before us and leveraging on the gains of those after us will define our level of homeostasis in the world we live in. Getting a hold on the technologies that define generations ahead of us is critical to obeying the mandate of the “survival of the fittest” as proposed by Herbert Spencer, an oracular advocate of Social Darwinism. Know your generation and outdo its inherent limitations. Be transgenerational- a day at a time. (The age bracket may vary somewhat from quarters to quarters, but it is essentially epochal.)
