generation y

(pronounced: jenn-why)

The generation of Americans who are post-generation x, this group is considered to include people born between 1980 and 1995. Marketers use these terms to categorize an audience into a particular demographic in order to identify the trends associated with that group. Educators also use these terms to describe an age group of students.

The formative influences for this group include constant technological change (these are people who have never used a rotary telephone or an 8-track player). Indeed, a millenial is one who has always known a life with computers (including digital game toys, GPS systems, and the Internet).

It's been said that the baby boomers are wildly optimistic, that the GenXers are skeptical and pessimistic, and that the millennials are practical and pragmatic. "Gen M" refers to generation media kids.