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Millennials

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Millennials are a large group of people born during a changing time. Most researchers say they were born between 1981 and 1996.

US living adult generations
US living adult generations

This group follows Generation X and comes before Generation Z. Many millennials are the children of baby boomers. They are also the parents of the younger Generation Alpha.

Dad with a Bjorn
Dad with a Bjorn

Because they are a large group, some call them "Echo Boomers."

Growing up was different for this group than for others. They saw the rise of the Information Age and the Internet.

Nostalgia (7539894906)
Nostalgia (7539894906)

As young adults, they used early social media tools. These included Myspace and AOL Instant Messenger.

Girl talking mobile 2006 cropped 2
Girl talking mobile 2006 cropped 2

They are often called the first globalized generation. This is because they grew up as the world became more connected. They are also very comfortable using new technology every day.

People have used many different names for this group. In 1987, authors William Strauss and Neil Howe used the term "millennials." They wrote about them in books like "Millennials Rising" in 2000.

Social sciences
Social sciences

Another name, "Generation Y," was used by an editorial in 1993. Later, many people decided that "Millennials" was a much better name. Some people even call them the "Net Generation" or "Generation Next." These names all try to describe their unique way of living.

Life has not always been easy for many millennials. Many started working during hard times like the Great Recession.

View on Climate Change
View on Climate Change

They often face high student debt and high costs for childcare. In some Western countries, people call them the "Unluckiest Generation." This is because they have seen more economic shifts than older groups. In Japan, some feel a "pain of living" due to these struggles. These challenges affect how they live and plan for the future.

Millennials are changing how society works in many ways. They are often less religious than the people who came before them.

Crowds in Copacabana - Holy Mass for the WYD 2013 in Rio de Janeiro
Crowds in Copacabana - Holy Mass for the WYD 2013 in Rio de Janeiro

Many also wait longer to get married or live together. Around the world, they are having fewer children than their parents did. However, millennials in developing countries still help the global population grow. They continue to shape the world through their choices and new ideas.

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Generation timeline simple.svg
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