Millennials

Generation Y is a term used to describe the people born between 1978 and 1994. ^[1] Other terms used to name members of the same generation include Millennial and Echo Boomer. ^[2]^[3]

The first indication of a second generation to follow the Baby Boom generation came with the publication of Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069 by authors William Strauss & Neil Howe. Their dating system was based on the reason that 1982 gave birth to the class of 2000, with the positive attention ushering in a new age in childhood development. ^[4] Then in 1993 a new term came into being - Gen Y. The term first appeared in a August 1993 Ad Age editorial to describe those teenagers born between 1974 -1980. ^[5]

Today the term Gen Y and its associated labels Millennial and Echo Boomer are generally used to describe three types of generational spans which include, mid 70s through early 80s, late 70s through early 90s, and the early 80s to the early 2000s. ^[6]^[7]^[8]

Is Generation Y just a late Generation X?

The inherent similarities between Generation Y and its predecessor, Generation X, have led many to view Gen-Y as a mere protraction of Gen-X, going as far as to question the existence of two separate generational classifications. There are, however, very important differences between the generations, including (but not limited to) the age at which modern technology was introduced to members of each generation, and much of the doubt of the difference between the two generations is simply founded upon ignorance.

Also, categorizing the span of people born from the 1960s to 2000s would be far too long to consider a cultural generation as it is about as long as a biological one. It is, however, important to note that the difference between generations is less significant as of the 21st century than it was in previous times.

The digital factor

In his book Growing Up Digital, business strategist and psychologist Don Tapscott coined the term "Net Generation" for the group, pointing at the significance of being the first to grow up immersed in a digital--and Internet--driven world.

However, they may be the last generation to appreciate their significance in a changing culture, as most of them can still readily recall older items of the pre-digital era such as VHS tapes.

In addition, most Generation Y members, even those born as late as the early 1990s can still clearly remember a time before widespread use of DVD players, digital audio players, cell phones, TiVo, digital cable, broadband, eBooks, and other now ubiquitous inventions. Those born prior to 1986 can probably clearly remember a time before the World Wide Web broke out in the mid to late 1990s.

It may be accurate to mark the boundary by the ubiquitous presence of computers in the everyday life of Generation Y. Generation X grew up in the 1980s when computers were rare, primitive, and chiefly for nerds, business, or Yuppies, unlike Generation Y which have always been surrounded by computers, and would not find their presence remarkable or interesting as they came into mainstream use when most Yers were young children or not even born during the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s.

The moments that defined Generation Y

Perhaps the best way to define the boundaries of this and other generations in the United States is by considering dominant national events. Events that shape national identity, although not completely explicative of all personality traits, may nonetheless shed light on broad characteristics in any given generation. Key points to consider are (a) which events are 'national' shaping events and (b) for these demarcation events, how is the event perceiving differently by the generation(s) who directly experienced it -- lived through it moment-by-moment as it evolved -- rather than read about it after the fact. (Two subsets of (b) include (b1) How you learned of the event and, perhaps more important but less discussed, (b1) What you then did. The emotional reaction to the news and the choices/decisions/actions a person(s) takes shape their sense of self and of their fellows. Even the action to ignore the event -- e.g. turn on the TV and get on with your daily routine vs stand around the water-cooler/TV/phone and talk about it -- is an action/decision. Later generations can only guess what they would have done (or imagine what trivial to large decisions they would have had to face) and so do not have the emotional penetration of the experience -- the 'seared in their memory', if you will, and they're anecdotal story when/if it comes up in conversation.)

As such, two events proposed as boundaries for Generation Y include two national tragedies:

The Challenger explosion (most members of this generation did not witness the tragedy on their televisions, were not aware it had happened, or were not born yet, in contrast to members of Generation X, who may have watched the takeoff—and the explosion—in the classroom.

On the other end of the spectrum, the date of the September 11th attacks is an often proposed end-point for the generation. Those that were not yet born in 2001 and those that were otherwise too young to remember and/or understand what occurred on that infamous day (about 1997 up) would thus be grouped into Generation Z or what Cryderman defines as the iGeneration as they would have no memory whatsoever of the 20th Century and any predigital technologies still around in the Nineties. Meanwhile, people who were still in school (or had recently graduated) would be called Generation Y. Such propositions, of course, remain disputed.

One way these may be shaping events then is to view them as bottoms in a person's lifetime, and experiences providing the Living Generations a "Never Again" objective.

But Baby Boomer and Silents, who watched the Moon Landing on television in 1969, probably give too much credit to the Challenger incident as a shaping event. Gen Xers, especially if they did not see it in minute-by-minute overkill, may well have wondered: 'What is all the fuss about?' It was an accident. People died, yes sad, but accidents happen every day.' As far as spaceships blowing up, Gen Xers thrilled to Star Wars in the theater (and its quality special effects) so some blow up; some don't.

As life-shaping events, Gen X is discovering they are now supervising in the work force Gen Yers who didn't watch 'The Miracle on Ice' (1980 Winter Olympic Hockey, U.S. Gold to Russians Bronze), they can't sing the Gilligan's Island song (or more important, the 'Preamble to the Constitution' from Schoolhouse Rock), and don't know 'Who Shot J.R.'? Baby Boomer journalists spent an entire Saturday (July 16, 1999, JFK Jr and wife Carolynne) covering a single small-airplane accident carrying only two people, while Gens X and Y wondered quietly to themselves: Ummm, who again are these people and why should I care?

Major successes (Moon Landing, Desert Storm/Gulf War I, Miracle on Ice) and especially major tragedies (Hurricane Katrina, 9-11) provide common condensed-day experiences. Of note, they can usually be categorized with to obvious good/bad labels. Such events give the living generations common bonding experieinces, sear-in-our-memory, but may be less useful to 'defining' a generation.

In contrast, events (whether they be condensed-day or extended) that force individuals to make decisions define a generation(s), and the direction it then takes. This may be especially true for the child-generation observing their parents. Examples include: Boomers to Watergate and Vietnam, Gen X to Iranian Hostages, Gen Y to Clinton's Impeachment and the Bush/Gore Florida ballots. A non-political example is (will be) Hurricane Katrina. Financial demarcations include whether you shop at Wal-mart or Target and Pensions versus 401Ks. Roe-vs-Wade (early 1970s) provides an interesting potential demarcation. Gen Xers can only read about Coat Hangar abortions in the abstract but may certainly be aware of friends (or even themselves) who may not be alive today had abortions been more legal.

Generations are shaped by their childhood experiences, then defined by their early-adulthood actions, when each generation can consciously adopt/accept/continue their parents attitudes/opinions or reject them.

Afghanistan and Gulf War II may become the war that defines Gen Y. Little has been said about how/if Vietnam (via ad-nauseum defeatist movies) and then Desert Storm/Gulf War I may have shaped Gen X. Gulf War II and The War Against Terrorism may in fact become the war that defines Gen Y (and may even cause an alliance with Gen X, who is also young enough to be fighting in the war). Will the current conflicts, involving all living generation, end up mimicking the Vietnam War, which greatly impacted both the Silents and Baby Boomers, or will the differences between these conflicts exacerbate generational and ideological divides over war attitudes? One major difference, however, is that all servicemen and women currently deployed in Afghanistan or Iraq are volunteers, as opposed to the Vietnam War where many young Americans were draftees. Therefore, each Generation is faced with when to make a decision about the war (upon receiving/antipating a draft notice versus a voluntary initiative) and what actions that decision entails (e.g. enrolling in college ROTC enables you to avoid the war versus its your means to contribute, volunteering to 'enlist' in this long-term conflict).

The XY Cusp between Generation X and Y

Controversy surrounds where to place the boundary between X and Y. Various sources classify those born between Mid 1970s to Mid 1980s in either Generation X or Y. The term XY Cusp is used to describe those born between Mid 1970s to Mid 1980s because they are not considered by most to be a separate generation, but rather a lost unclassifiable cohort part of both generations, yet part of neither. This term also recognizes those born in the latter 80s and early 90s to be the "core" of Generation Y, whom, in contrast to cuspers, are not confused as to which generation they belong to. Therefore, those born in the latter 80s and early 90s belong only to Generation Y. Compounding on the confusion, there also exists a disagreement on the name "Generation Y." While society at large has been referring to them as Generation Y, those born 1982 and later dislike the term as it associates them to Generation X (some instead preferring the term "Millennial"). Others, from the Mid 80s, believe they are still too young, making it too early to fully commit to the label or description. Meanwhile, XY cuspers have remained silent on the issue of the name "Generation Y." Should they later decide on the name "Millennial" to describe the core group, then the cusp would be renamed to "Xer-Millennial" or "Millennial-Xer." In addition, the term "Generation Next" has been used in reference to this generation, although not as widespread as other monikers.[9] [10] [11]

See also: MTV Generation

Generational demographics

Many in Generation Y are the children of Baby Boomers, and the generation is also known as the "Echo (Boom) generation," because it is, in some areas, the largest demographic grouping since the baby boom that immediately followed World War II (the U.S. birth rate per 1,000 population, however, declined for seven consecutive years starting in 1991 — the second longest such streak on record, exceeded only by the eleven-year baby bust of 1958 through 1968). Most parents of the members of Generation Y are from the Baby Boomer or younger Silent generations; significantly fewer parents are from Generation X (mostly kids born in 1991 or later). Their grandparents are mostly from the G.I. Generation, with some older Silents. While the echo was much larger than the previous cohorts, the relative size of this generation is much smaller than that of the Baby Boom. The American population was much larger in the 1990s than in the 1950s or '60s. From 1946 to 1964, the U.S. total fertility rate averaged 3.3 — high enough to double the population every two generations. Since around 1980, it has averaged 1.9, which is below the so-called replacement rate, though in recent years it has moved slightly above 2.0. Families continued to get smaller than in previous decades, usually with only one or two children.

Americans Under Age 18
Year	Millions	Percent of Population
1950	47.3	31.1%
1960	64.5	35.7%
1970	69.8	34.0%
1980	63.7	28.0%
1990	64.2	25.7%
1998	69.8	25.9%

The Echo Boom The actual “Echo Boom” was a five year span between 1989 and 1993 when for the first time since 1964, the number of live births reached over four million. It wouldn’t be until 1985 that the live birth number would even match that of 1965 at 3.760 million. Also it should be noted that the birthrate of 1971’s 17.2% has yet to be reached according to the 2000 census. ^[12]

Generation Y in the United States

Most have few memories of the Cold War (apart from perhaps action movies, toys, or video games with such themes) and came of age during the technology-driven changes in the years of President Bill Clinton. They were the first to grow up with the Internet in a developed, prolific form, including music downloads, instant messaging and cellular phones, which came to fruition at about 1997. Even before they could type and mouse-click their way through the internet, they were the first to grow up with a modern media choices: television remotes to encourage channel flipping; cable, with its wealth of channels among which to switch; and multiple TVs (and video recorders) in a household. These TV choices reduced the commonality (and centralized control) of the viewing experience. The 'Who Shot J.R.' (Ewing of the TV series Dallas) experience is dispersed in both place (all the family around the TV, repeated across all households in the timezone) as well as in time (video recorders). Similarly, DVD popularity and large-screen home TVs have dispersed the impact of TV/movie events, and even, with viewer voting shows like American Idol, have become as interactive as the internet, changing generational assumptions about how one interacts with their media environment.

Other major social changes in recent times include immigration and developments in race relations. Characteristically, Generation Y members are generally very tolerant towards multiculturalism and internationalism. (Generation X is similarly tolerant of diversity in itself, but intolerant of having it forced on them by reverse-discriminatory quotas or politically-correct speech.) It is also not uncommon for post-1970s born children to grow up dating people outside their own race or ethnic group, as well as having a wide range in friends. This growing trend towards interracial relationships is sometimes a source of negative friction between youth and their parents or elders, who grew up in a society where interracial romance was once considered extremely taboo and even banned in a number of states until the late 1960s. The state of Alabama only officially disbanded its anti-miscegenation laws in the year 2000. As well, many people in this group are themselves multiracial in background, and this is also a considerable change from previous generations.

Opinions on Gay rights and gender roles are also being adjusted and redefined as each generation emerges into adulthood. Generation Y is known for having among the most wide-ranging opinions on such issues, possibly because they haven't yet encountered a personal situation where their actions/reactions cause them to consciously choose sides. With Generations X and Y in their child-rearing years, situations related to these topics will become more observable, hence generationally-coherent opinions may become more clear: to adopt or attempt to change then the policies of their Silent and Boomer parents.

This generation was the subject of much concern during the 1990s, though, despite some of its positive features. The Columbine school shooting, youth participation in street gangs, hate groups, and behaviors such as teen pregnancy fueled a wave of action by schools and other organizations. These events however (save for the school shootings) were very present, if not even more common, before the 1990s but were simply not talked about as much. [Furthermore, this paragraph contains many generalities stated as fact but without supporting evidence. These alleged trends new researched, especially if a demarcation can be made from Gen Y to current teenagers, who are increasingly interested in abstinence.]

The 2004 Presidential election was the first election in which Generation Y was able to vote in significant numbers. John Kerry received 55% of the votes. Notwithstanding, the ratio between young voters voting Democratic or for the incumbent George W. Bush remained relatively stable. The latter may suggest that Gen Y is in fact reflective of American society as a whole rather than a defined independent generation in itself. The latter may instead reflect that 2004 was too early in Gen Y's definitive year; they're still following their parents (or the authority figures learned from their parents; e.g. Party spokesman, the church, the Mainstream Media) and have not yet (and may not ever) claimed their own generational political identity. (Gen X's Soccer Mom and Nascar Dad political sub-identities have only recently become definable labels.)

Generation Y elsewhere

In a strict sense, the term "Generation Y" and its variations can be said to refer only to the United States, but the close cultural connection between the U.S. and other Western countries has led to the term being used to describe any youth culture, even if the emerging generation does not bear any characteristic similarities to the United States version of "Generation Y" besides chronological birth years.

In many rich countries, the 1980s and 1990s were a period of rapidly falling birthrates. In Southern Europe and Japan, and less markedly in Northern and Eastern Europe, Generation Y is dramatically smaller than any of its predecessors, and its childhood years tended to be marked by small families, both immediate and extended, small classes at school and school closures. In the Soviet Union during the 1980s, there was a "baby boom echo" similar to that in the United States, and Generation Y there is relatively large; however, birth rates fell through the floor in the 1990s to extremely low levels. This meant a lot of individual attention from parents in a period in which society was becoming intrinsically more risk averse.

The child poverty rate was still relatively high in many Western countries throughout the 1980s and '90s.

The increasing stratification of wealth in many societies has led to an increase in the societal differences between poor and rich members of this generation. Although many middle class and wealthier families arrange many extra-curricular activities for their children, less affluent families cannot afford such extras, increasing the pressure on their own children. Since much of the generational character is tied to the prevalence of "extracurriculars" and relatively expensive technologies such as computers, some feel that the description of the generation only applies to wealthy members or at least the broadly middle class.

In Eastern Europe, Generation Y is the first generation without mature memories of communism or dictatorial rule. In newly rich countries such as South Korea or Greece, Generation Y has known nothing but developed world standards of living, while their grandparents often grew up in developing world conditions, causing considerable social changes and inter-generational difficulties as the young reject many traditional ways of life.

Generation Y was the first generation in countries like India and China to benefit from western modern amenities due to liberalization of their economies.

Relationship with other living generations

Gen Y are usually children to the Baby Boomers and sometimes of early Gen Xers (not uncommon for kids born in 1991 and afterwards). Because of this they have a tendency to share social views with the Boomers and culture with Gen X, who serve chiefly as their 'older cousins' or even older siblings. The musical genre "Old Skool" may be the source of this. Regardless, now with over 10 years in the workforce, Gen X is taking their place in middle-to-upper management. Hence, Gen X is discovering the mentor role for themselves, and perhaps one of the first opportunities to signficantly and openly assert themselves compared to the constant drumbeat that they, Gen X, are out-numbered by their elder Boomers. The mentor role (and the lessening of Boomer dominance of major media) also provides situations to distinguish Silent co-workers from Boomers, perhaps further refining/defining Silent opinions from Boomer, rather than assuming the unity of opinion of these two elder generations.)

The next generational group after Gen Y, when it becomes defined, may be one of the first generations (at least in modern memory and census data practices) to include children with parents from multiple generations. (Other generations certainly may have included some from other parent-generations, but there was a dominant clearly-easily-identifiable parent generation.) Modern medicine and changing attitudes have impacted both when and who can have children. Female Boomers can become pregnant (with medical assistance) at much later ages. Many Gen Xers (as illustrated by the popular comedy "Friends") waited until their late 20s or early 30s. Thus, the next so-far-unnamed Generation will have some Boomer parents and some Gen X parents (and even some Gen Y parents, in their 20s), creating and interesting mix of parent-opinions to shape child-rearing and education opinions/policies. [With the advent of the new millenia, let's start at the beginning of the alphabet. Then "Gen Y" is also Gen A, and the next generation is "Gen BC", with "B" for the Boomer-childer and "C" for the Xer children. This provides a placeholder until events and characteristics provide descriptive names for them.]

Music and subcultures

Background

Generations have often used music to set themselves apart, testing out values, rebelling against their parents, declaring what they stand for and stand against. In many English-speaking countries including the US and the UK, hip hop, so-called alternative rock, emo/pop-punk, electronic dance music, R&B, form the common backdrop for Generation Y and latter Gen X.

These styles came of age themselves during roughly the same period, from origins in the late '70s and the '80s to widespread cross-cultural currency and commercial success in the 1990s, just as many Yers were in their preteens and teens and Gen X were dominant. By the proposed end of Gen Y near the millennium, these three wide umbrella genres and various derivatives and cross-pollinations between them formed the basis for the most popular and culturally influential music in the world. A possible defining distinction between Gen X and Gen Y is the alternative era/hip-hop revolution of the early 90's. Children who became adults during this era could be considered Gen X. Those who came of age after the rebirth of pop during the late '90's could be considered Gen Y.

Most members of Gen Y cannot personally remember much about Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher, and they probably also cannot recall a time when rap, grunge, metal, punk, techno, and synth-pop were unfamiliar to them, whether by conscious choice on MTV or the radio, or from a neighbor's boom box, passing cars, or hits on the loudspeaker in the supermarket aisle (true Muzak was abandoned in the late 1980s).

Although these styles may have seemed revolutionary for the prior Generation X, experiencing them in their infancy, for Generation Y they have always been a normal part of the musical landscape, sounds long since "co-opted" by the mainstream and routinely melded with every type of pop music in an attempt by its makers to attain generational currency because of the slowdown of pop music revolution beginning in 1997 because of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Rifts with Generation X and earlier generations

Hip Hop and the rise/fall of Rock and Roll

Hip hop music, and accompanying movements in fashion and slang, create perhaps the largest musical rift between Gen Y and its forbears. Gen X and the Boomer generation were both fond of rock and roll, even despite their differences; but while Gen Y also contains many fans of rock, beginning in the 2000s, rock is no longer considered to be "cool" but rather an alternative taste. By about 1992, hip hop had replaced rock as the "parent-angering" music, as rock became more about emotion and less about having a "good time". It should be noted that hip hop, especially old skool hip hop and the gangsta rap made prior to 1997 does cross into Generation X and that later Xers tend to more tolerant of hip hop than early Xers and the Xers as a whole do not dislike hip hop quite as much as the Boomers do. Also, the early days of hip hop's mainstreamization in the late 1980s and early 1990s was very much fueled by latter Gen X born in the 1970s.

During the 1980s rap was largely confined to the African American community, especially that in large American cities such as New York and Los Angeles. In the late Eighties, however, rap did begin to become mainstream as other cultures began to demand it with artists such as the Beastie Boys, NWA, Ice T, and Public Enemy.

The 1990s represented the assimilation of rap into the mainstream, by 1990 rap was only beginning to top the charts but by 1999 rap was the most popular form of music on pop radio except for perhaps the teen pop groups of that time.

By the 2000s almost all non-rock/punk popular music on MTV and pop radio was either rap or rap-influenced music; while rap and hip-hop were extremely popular for most of the '90s there were many other popular genres of music in that decade while 2000s pop is more musically one-tracked on rap and rap/R&B.

Acceptance of adult-oriented media

Although the Boomers were considered controversial during their heyday in the 1960s and 1970s and Gen X saw the beginnings of looser censorship standards, Gen Y was the first generation that pretty much lived with things such as the PG-13 rating and the Parental Advisory sticker.

As technology boomed in the 1990s and the then-young-adults Gen X gained influence over the media Gen Y, at the time children, gained easier access to explicit material. By about 1993 crude language began to become acceptable on television and within a few years television networks such as FOX and cable channels such as Comedy Central pushed the boundaries of what could be shown on TV. This trend peaked in the late Nineties with the rise of the Internet and ultra-controversial shows such as South Park went on the air.

It should be noted that the censorship changes of the 1990s were not all more allowing of explicit and offensive material. While graphic depictions of blood and gore, and certain depictions of sexual activity became more commonplace, mild language is still censored as of 2006. Some other curse words (such as "fuck" and "shit") are still quite taboo and censored in various media). While certain forms of disrespectful activity are now at least somewhat acceptable on television and radio, other offensive material such as violence against women, and certain types of racial humor/slurs are no longer acceptable. Children's programming tends to be much more rapid-paced and crude than it was prior to the early to mid 1990s.

Musical contributions

The musical genres most commonly associated with Generation Y are post-gangsta rap and pop punk, although there are other genres associated with this part of Gen Y, including underground rap from the likes of Atmosphere and Common, pop R&B from the likes of Mariah Carey and 1990s indie acts that have since become mainstream in the mid-2000s such as Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, and Elliott Smith.

Of course, as many genres of 1990s music still live on into the 2000s many music stereotypes of Gen X, such as grunge, can be extended somewhat to Gen Y.

What might end up defining at least the 2000s section Generation Y music is the heavily charged political nature of music from popular bands and artists in response to the September 11th attacks and ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

There have been many left-leaning, anti-establishment frontmen like Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day, outspoken political singer Steve Earle, Serj Tankian from System of a Down, Chris Cornell from Audioslave, and Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes, as well as from more mainstream bands like Bono from U2, Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones, and Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher from Oasis who continue to have success with Generation Y.

On the flip side there have been very popular, right-leaning patriotic songs from country artists like Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Kenny Chesney.

The late 1990s (1997-2000)

During the late 1990s and first couple years of the 2000s teen pop somewhat like that of New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson and similar artists of the late eighties and early nineties were popular. This trend led by Britney Spears, N*SYNC and similar groups. By about 2002 most of these artists faded out as their fan base of preteen and teenage girls grew up and rap and more-rock influenced and "adult" pop such as Avril Lavigne took their place.

Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, and Jessica Simpson are respectively popular, showing that while pop of the late nineties variety is no longer as favorable as of 2006 (e.g. the Backstreet Boys endeavor at a comeback in 2005 was a relative flop in comparison to previous records sales in the United States, even despite going platinum), pop still upholds its place in the twenty-first century.

Contrary to popular belief, in 1997 and 1998 hip hop was in somewhat of a dead state as the deaths of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. slowed the genre and Eminem had not yet appeared on the scene. In fact, from about 1995 on, hip hop was generally losing fans to "alternative" music; this was increased by the deaths of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. and was not recovered until about 1999 when Eminem rose to fame.

By 2001 rap was the prime staple of whatever music was left on MTV and began to dominate pop radio.

The early 2000s (2001-2003)

By the early 2000s rap was clearly the most popular genre of music, outselling rock and roll for the first time in history in 2002, although post-grunge bands such as Nickelback and punk-influenced pop like Avril Lavigne still periodically topped pop charts. In 2002 Nickelback's How You Remind Me was the #1 song of the year; a year later 50 Cent's mass hit In Da Club was released.

Rock during the early 2000s was mostly numetal, rap metal, and grunge-influenced rock bands. Overall it was not too different from most the 1990s, but pop-punk bands began to become popular in this period and some classic-rock influenced bands such as The White Stripes also became popular, pointing to a new era of music.

The mid 2000s (2004-2006)

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of Generation Y's musical genres during this time period are pop punk and the latest post-punk revival, sometimes termed "Neo-Wave", both of which are influenced by 1990s punk and 1980s New Wave music, the former more influential on sound and the latter on image in the case of pop-punk. Pop-punk is also considerably influenced by Millenial teen pop, albeit often in a tongue-in-cheek way.

The term emo is often used to describe a rock movement associated specifically with Generation Y, but the term's meaning is controversial and arguably inept. The genre is producing a pseudo-counterculture with bands such as Hawthorne Heights, Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance through mediums such as Fuse and MTV2. Mainstream rock radio, however, is slower to pick up on the trends as they find post-grunge bands (such as Nickelback) to be a much safer bet for their listeners as the genre generally refuses to die even despite being around so long.

Rap music of the post-gangsta and crunk subgenres were widely favored, almost entirely dominating the charts by 2003 as the teen pop explosion of the late 1990s phased out and grunge rock began to fall out of style to emo (it should be noted that "grunge-pop" like Lifehouse is still quite popular among some).

It was during this time period that Rap music began to see somewhat of a decline in popularity as more kids became "emo". Many hardocre rap Gen Y fans think the genre "sold out".

Mainstream artists like 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Lil' Jon, Black Eyed Peas, and Kanye West are very well-liked among many Yers.

However, beginning in the early 1990s as gangsta rap started, but especially in the latter half of the '90s and the 2000s, many rap fans disliked the mainstream as it had become more "glam" and less meaningful and fun, turning to underground from the likes of Atmosphere or old skool from the Beastie Boys and similar bands.

As MP3 downloads and iPods became popular and the increase of the Internet's use for propagating culture greatly increased during this period, many Gen Y developed very eclectic, international tastes. Examples of this would be the rise of flapper type styles, and the burgeoning popularity of reggaeton throughout the United States. However, record companies claim that internet downloads have negatively impacted their sales.

The "Anti-Y" Trend

To the contarary, many members of Generation Y show little or no interest in (in fact openly hate) their own music. An increasing trend among Generation Y members, (sometimes called the Anti-Y Movement) is to listen to rock that was around before they were born or popular while they were young. Bands like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, pre-Load Metallica, Nirvana, The Beatles, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath (and Ozzy Osbourne), and Cream are common favorites, among many others. It can be expected that these members of generation Y will start bands that will evoke the style of these afformentioned bands than present day musicians, and may have a musical impact on the upcoming Generation Z.

The movies of Generation Y

Members of Generation Y are maturing during a period where most popular movies are either cult films or renditions of books, comics, graphic novels, other movies, or even other remakes. This in conjunction with declining box office ticket sales and a greater variety of entertainment choices and mediums. Video entertainment movie sources include cable television as well as rented/purchased/library videos and DVDs. Movies may still be labeled blockbusters since higher ticket prices mean ongoing breaking of sales records; but no meaningful 'blockbuster' (or made-for-TV event), with theater ticket sales (or single-night viewership) has been driven by Generation Y. The closest TV event is perhaps "Survivor: Season 1". Each Harry Potter book release gets greater emotional anticipation than the movie releases. "Star Wars: Episodes I,II and III" are in the running for Gen Y movie blockbusters. Meanwhile, some segments of both Gen Y and Gen X eagerly monitor and indulge in Gaming releases. (Gen X had the first Atari Pac-Man and now games with their children.) Given the lack of a singular point to monitor viewing -- movie and network TV viewing is now more dispursed in time and space via DVDs, reruns, and internet chatroom summaries; it is harder for social scientists to recognize and comment on an entertainment piece with lasting meaning to a generation. To distinguish a simply popular flick versus a shaping one (emotionally or logical) and to distinguish a narrow cult flick from a nationwide or worldwide one increasingly requires some hindsight, rather than recognizing it as it happens. (Products labeled "collectible" will generally not be the best, most valued memoriabilia.) To wit: American Idol's She-Bang singer may be one of Gen Y's pivotal memories.

While preference in film inevitably varies from individual to individual, popular films with Generation Y include cult-hits such as Napoleon Dynamite, Sin City, Finding Nemo, Fight Club and American Beauty as well as main-stream hits like The Matrix, the Lord of the Rings series, and the Harry Potter series. Also, older movies that were released when Gen X-ers were teens, such as John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Sixteen Candles are quite popular, as are Quentin Tarantino movies like Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and the more recent Kill Bill series. More notorious Gen X films are only now gaining more attention from the Y Generation and iGeneration, as they begin to search for more meaningful, edgy, and thought-provoking filmmaking. Part of Generation Y's self-definition through films occurs by quoting and citing scenes and dialogue from popular films such as Napoleon Dynamite and Office Space. Napoleon Dynamite — a film set in the early 2000s but with a pointed nostalgia for the 1980s — will most likely serve as a reference point for Generation Y nostalgia. Movies such as The Matrix, Memento, and Waking Life lead the generation to heavily question the nature of their reality.

One common movie trend of the 2000s is youth turning to indie, avant-garde, and much older films in reaction to the perceived vacancy found in the mainstream movies of the new millennium. Thirteen seemed to have had an enormous impact upon Generation Y teens, as did Ghost World, Donnie Darko, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I Heart Huckabees, and Rebel Without a Cause.

Another interesting aspect of Gen Y film culture is that films, while individually successful, are becoming more identifiable by their directors. Many popular Gen Y films include blocs of films done by directors like Quentin Tarantino, M. Night Shyamalan, Peter Jackson, David Fincher, David Lynch, Daron Arnofsky, Steven Soderberg, 'Cameron Crowe and Sam Raimi

It should also be noted that while movie stars' careers are much less fickle than those of musicians, many well-established celebrities such as Tom Cruise have experienced a very noticeable decline in popularity for various reasons while Harry Potter, LOTR, Lost, and even the Disney Channel are producing new stars, some of which are part of Generation Y itself.

The television of Generation Y

TV overview

Similar to the case with movies, members of iGeneration and Gen Y at large are purported to watch much less [13] television in comparison to members of past generations. This is largely attributed to the popularity of the Internet, [14] which was formerly relegated to so-called "nerds" or "geeks". Mundane programming and lacking television series which honestly depict (and thus appeal) to Gen Y are some contributors of this. Although reality shows are viewed by some, it seems most reality series are actually more popular amongst older adults as many are bored with the trend.

General trends

Typically, news and current events outside of pop culture are not closely followed by most Generation Y members. Anderson Cooper's program is popular amongst those who follow news. For those less serious, The Daily Show is their answer. The Daily Show has become the most popular news program for the 18-25 demographic even though it is a "fake" news program.

Animated sitcoms, such as Family Guy, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Futurama are very popular among Gen Y and latter Gen X. Traditional sitcoms fare less well among Gen Y, but are still common in the 2000s mainly because of older viewers.

Comedy Central and FOX are popular channels among Gen Y. The former hosts the definitive Y show "South Park" and the latter hosts many popular Gen Y shows, some of which, such as early-2000s show Andy Richter Controls the Universe have been cancelled in favor of reality shows in the indignation of many Gen Yers. The WB is also somewhat popular (e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer); but its popularity among teens is below that of its late-90s' peak, and the network began targeting an older audience in 2005.

Other popular networks for Generation Y are Fuse, G4, VH1, Spike TV, Cartoon Network (mostly Adult Swim), Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, MTV and MTV2. (The children's networks may be of particular note. Previous generations had Sesame Street (PBS), Saturday morning cartoons, and after-school shows such as The Mickey Mouse club. Cable first became widespread in the 19XXs (1980s?), with the above children's stations for Gen Y (while Gen X was getting its MTV).

Notable Generation Y shows

Popular TV programs amongst Generation Y include:

Power Rangers (1994-)
The O.C. (2003-)
Laguna Beach (2004-)
Spongebob Squarepants (1999-) (More Popular With Middle & Younger Y Members)
Ed, Edd, and Eddy (1999-) (More Popular With Middle & Younger Y Members)
Best Week Ever (2004-)
Desperate Housewives (2004-) (Even though it's targeted at an older audience)
Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-)
Lost (2004-)
Family Guy (1999-2002, 2005-)
Punk'd (2002-)
Chappelle's Show (2003-2004, 3rd season episodes aired in 2006)
The Real World (1992-)
The Daily Show (1999-)
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000-)
TRL (1998-)
Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004) (More Popular With Younger Y Members)
That's So Raven (2002-2006)
Drake and Josh (2004-) (More Popular With Younger Y Members)
Even Stevens (2000-2003)
King of the Hill (1997-2006)
American Idol (2001-)
The Simpsons (1989-) (More Popular With Older & Middle Y Members)
South Park {1997-}
Friends (1994-2004)
One Tree Hill (2003-)
Gilmore Girls (2000-)
Everwood (2002-)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-)
The Colbert Report (2005-)
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Angel (1999-2004)

Special mention should be given to South Park as it is arguably the most definitive (if not the most popular) Gen Y show even after 8 years of running, as it came out in 1997 during the early days of the Gen Y era and has lampooned Gen Y culture ever since. Its popularity dipped a bit among Gen Y in the mid-2000s as some of Y's younger members (typically born after about 1989 or 1990) showed little interest in the show. Also, if Chappelle's Show was not abruptly cancelled in 2005 it would have surpassed "South Park" in popularity, perhaps eventually becoming even more quintessentially Gen Y. "South Park" will likely end in 2008 as the end of that year is when their contract expires and Matt Stone and Trey Parker seem to be increasingly interested in other projects.

The Simpsons — while truly being a Gen X show — remains popular amongst a considerable minority, despite many former 1990s fans no longer regularly watching the show because they find it tired and outdated, accusing the show of being on only to break records. (In some ways, The Simpsons carried on, in animated form, the family/themes from Gen X's Married With Children.)

Due to the fact that modern programming generally does not appeal to this generation, slightly older 1990s television series such as Daria, My So-Called Life, Seinfeld, and Buffy all have their legions of devoted fans. Even early '90s sitcoms such as Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Saved by the Bell, and Full House appeal to some.

Anime and "mature cartoons" are also popular: Cowboy Bebop and Aqua Teen Hunger Force both quickly became cult-hits on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim program block.

Generation Y literature

Many critics point to the fact that Gen Y lacks any consistent literary figure [15] that represents the generation, as all previous generations seem to have had.

Although J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books are immensely popular, the series isn't widely regarded as literary items of Gen Y in particular, as the popularity of the books can be attributed to Rowling's unique approach to literature. She is often credited with helping kids regain interest in reading.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bell Jar, and Girl, Interrupted have all received cult followings but still remain unknown to those less affiliated with books and reading in general.

The Rules of Attraction and American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis as well as the works of Chuck Palahniuk: Fight Club, Survivor and Lullaby are currently gaining popularity with Generation Y college students, as are many books by countercultural authors such as Hunter S. Thompson.

Argueably the most popular book in recent memory, The DaVinci Code, written by Dan Brown, has had cross-generational appeal, but has seemed to had the most success between the members of the MTV Generation and Generation Y

The cult-like statures surrounding particular authors (such as Michael J. Bernard) suggests that there remains an underlying desire for the next F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Philip K. Dick, Kurt Vonnegut, or J.D. Salinger but whether any author will achieve such a lofty perch remains doubtful.

The Internet and Generation Y

A major characteristic of Generation Y was the arrival of the Internet. Generation X mostly viewed the computer as a "geeky" thing to have in the 1980s and early 1990s (or minor class jealousy for those who could do their English homework on the computer instead of the typewriter), but Gen Y as been universally exposed to the computer as general users (rather than Gen X's technically-oriented users) and now a computer lies in almost every household of at least moderate financial means. Ironically, using paper-based resources such as libraries became seen as "geeky" by Gen Y. [Another comparison is that Gen X could learn about automobiles by tinkering on them: rebuilding the carburator, et cetera. Gen Y vehicles -- with their automatic fuel injection, electronic debug codes, et cetera -- are less conducive to hands on learning. This illustrates then a possible difference between Gen X and Gen Y: an instinct and willingness for hands-on 'take-it-apart-and-see-what-makes-it-tick' independent learning versus in-school training or availability of users manual. The internet availability of Do-It-Yourself knowledge, however, may be giving all generations more opportunity for this independent learning; albeit a text-based cleaner version of it (by Googling and Wikipedia), rather than the more tactile imagery of get-your-hands-dirty, roll-up-your-sleeves and thumb through dusty manuals from the workshop or mom and dad's personal library.]

One major feature would be instant messaging through AOL Instant Messenger, MSN messenger or ICQ. This connected many of this generation with peers and has proved to be quite a social activity. With the introduction of the webcam, Generation Yer's could communicate while actually seeing their recipients. This has also lead to popular dating services.

Popular blog-based web-sites visited by Y-ers include Myspace.com, Xanga, and Livejournal.

Another major feature that the Internet brought up was the ability to show off film through sites such as Albinoblacksheep, Ebaumsworld, Atomfilms or ifilm. This led to the belief that anyone could be a star. In fact, Internet meme such as Badger, Badger, Badger, Numa Numa, Star Wars Gangsta Rap, and Peanut Butter Jelly Time have left their mark on Generation Y's pop culture.

The Internet also proved to be quite resourceful for school projects, making libraries largely obsolete for quick and easy research. Internet websites such as Encarta and Wikipedia came to be major sources for research projects, much to the chagrin of many teachers and professors.

Trends/problems among Generation Y members

As with previous generations, many problems began to surface as Generation Y came of age.

Underage drinking is prevalent among high school and college age members of Generation Y. Drug use has also become an issue. In urban areas, rave culture is becoming known for its influence on ecstasy usage. Marijuana, meth, coke, and inhalants seem to be most favored. Drug usage prevails even in spite of most Gen Y members undergoing programs such as D.A.R.E. during childhood. Such governmentally-funded programs faced criticism for their numerous contradictions and the misconception that teens are "influenced" into taking drugs via "peer pressure".

Generation Y is one of the most medicated generations in human history, with many Generation Yers prescribed antidepressants and other behavior-altering drugs like Ritalin, which has existed since the 1950s but was seldom prescribed before the early 1990s. It is interesting to note that Generation Y is more depressed and world aware (via the Internet)than any generation previous, which has led the Generation gaining a sterotype as the "sad generation".

Childhood obesity is another health problem that has plagued Generation Y and X before them. In response, many local school boards have started to remove junk food from school cafeterias in an effort to reverse this trend.

As members of Generation Y begin to enter the nation's colleges and universities in large numbers some of their Baby Boomer parents are becoming helicopter parents. Many college advisors and administrators worry that this could have a negative effect on Generation Y's social progress, ego, and developing maturity.

Generation Y is the first generation that had to deal with the AIDS epidemic during childhood. Some members of Generation Y were born to parents that had AIDS, some being orphaned by the illness, others contracting the disease from the mother.

Firsts

Technology

This generation was the first generation to use or witness the following technology from an early age:

The Internet (the World Wide Web), in a more prolific form for the general user ('consumer'-friendly) rather than technically oriented. (about 1997 onwards)
PCs with modern operating systems and mouse-based point-and-click GUIs, requiring less keyboard skills. (mid 1990s onwards)
Sophisticated computer graphics in many video games, animated movies and television shows. (ambiguous initiation dates) (and the related non-keyboard interfaces)
Cellular phones. (mid-to-late 1990s and beyond)
Instant messaging. (late 90s)
DVDs (about 1997 and onwards)
Digital Audio Players (1998 and onwards)
Tivo and other such DVR devices. (1999 onward)
HDTV (mid 2000s onward)

Culture

These are the events that this generation experience while coming of age:

The effects of a major school massacre in the USA.

Y2K.

The effects of the Bush-approved and widely criticized RAVE Act in North America.

September 11th and its after affects

The global War on Terror

The February 15, 2003 global day of anti-war protests.

The SARS epidemic in Spring 2003.

The Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

Six major hurricanes that would hit Florida in two years: Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Ivan, Hurricane Jeanne, Hurricane Dennis, and Hurricane Wilma.

The events surrounding Hurricane Katrina .

The Hurricane Rita mass exodus in Houston in September 2005, which became the largest evacuation in American history.

References

^ Generation Y: complex, discerning and suspicious-Carol Nader- The Age- October 9, 2003
^ William Strauss and Neil Howe Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069:Perennial; Reprint edition (September 1, 1992)
^ William Strauss and Neil Howe Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069:Perennial; Reprint edition (September 1, 1992)
^ William Strauss and Neil Howe Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069:Perennial; Reprint edition (September 1, 1992)
^ After X Comes Y - echo boom generation enters workforce - Brief Article HR Magazine, April, 2001 by Julie Wallace
^ Brandchannel.com: Dr. Pete Markiewicz: Who's filling Gen Y's shoe's?
^ Millennial Manifesto: Scott Beale and Abeer Aballa-InstantPublisher (November, 2003)
^ CensusScope-Dominate Generations http://www.censusscope.org/us/map_generations.html
^ CDC report- Table 1-1. Live Births, Birth Rates, and Fertility Rates, by Race: United States,1909-2000