Xennials are a demographic - a microgeneration on the cusp of Gen X (born 1965-80) and the Millennials (born 1981 - 96). Researchers and popular media use the classification for people born between 1977 to 1983. They are old enough to have an internet-free childhood, but have spent their work lives online.
It's a segmentation that was coined by two media people for the online magazine Good in 2014, in an attempt to figure out the perks and downsides of generational identity of those people who didn't fit in with the Gen X or the Millennials. Read the original here. The major characteristic of the Xennials (pronounced Zen-ee-uh-ls) according to them is that they are a bridge between the disaffection of Gen X and the blithe optimism of the Millennials. In many ways, they have got the best of both the cohorts.
Note that these demographic segmentations - the Boomers, X, Xennials or Millennials are
a) based on the Western society, more specifically US society
b) useful and fun but should be used as guidelines only
There is clearly something useful to be gained in such classifications of generations, to have a handle on the social context and the collective, socio-cultural experiences they have been shaped by. But it is problematic also if carried too far - obviously incorrect to treat an entire cohort as a monolith with the same life/cultural experiences.
Indian ad/media-persons use a slightly different classification of the generations, tweaked to suit the desi market/society. Read about that here.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteHAH yes, I used Xennials too - well, brushed by them in reference to other eXamples! YAM xx
Good X word and one I had not read or heard. But my stepsons fall into that category. They are not as computer literate as the newer "kids". It is interesting to think about how much their world has changed from teen to mid adult now. Lots to think about and too easy to stereotype sometimes with the categories.
ReplyDeleteI may be dating myself, but I think that an internet free childhood is a positive. An (anti)social media free childhood certainly is.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this term - which I didn't know.
Hi Nila - I hadn't come across this term ... nor realised there were these various 'eras' ... and hadn't thought about it much. I realise my life moved from bung it and bash it typewriters, to those with correction tapes, to 'balls', to electric and then to different entry points for computers ... let alone mobiles = help! All the best - and thanks for the reminder ... Hilary
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