Hey 30-somethings, you're a Xennial
Between Generation X and Millennials exists a tiny micro-generation of people who call themselves the Xennials. Maybe you've seen this group labeled Generation Catalano -- a reference to '90s teen drama My So-Called Life -- or perhaps as the Oregon Trail Generation, but neither have quite the ring that Xennial does.
The term was originally coined by Sarah Stankorb for Good in a 2014 feature. A viral Facebook post from early June brought the term back into the news cycle.
As associate professor of sociology Dan Woodman from the University of Melbourne tells Australian lifestyle site Mamamia, those born between 1977 and 1983 had the unique experience of pre-internet childhoods that led into tech-centered early adulthood.
"It was a particularly unique experience. You have a childhood, youth and adolescence free of having to worry about social media posts and mobile phones. It was a time when we had to organise to catch up with our friends on the weekends using the landline, and actually pick a time and a place and turn up there."
But how do Xennials differ from the the generations its wedged between? We broke it down for you.
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Update, October 26, 10:04 AM: This article has been updated to further clarify the origins of the term "Xennial."
