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The Star
28-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Boomers, Gen Z, Gen X: Do generation labels make any sense
First there were the baby boomers, then Generation (or Gen) X, followed by Y, Z and Alpha. This year, a new cohort has emerged: Gen Beta. This generation, expected to span from 2025 to 2040, is already being discussed by demographers and sociologists, with the term gaining traction in English-language media. But how meaningful are these generational labels and what do they really tell us about the people they define? 'They are more of a popular science category,' says generational researcher Rudiger Maas, author of the book Konflikt der Generationen (Generational Conflict). Sociologist and youth researcher Klaus Hurrelmann says: 'The classifications have become very common in marketing and advertising, but also in science.' Boomers and millennials A new generation emerges on the scene roughly every 15 years: the numerous and self-confident baby boomers – those born after World War II up until 1964, were followed by Gen X, for people born from 1965 to 1979. Gen Y, also known as the millennials, from 1980 to 1994, or sometimes seen as those born until the end of the 1990s, depending on the classification. They were the first generation not to experience the East-West conflict during their formative teenage years, but they did experience the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001 and the financial crisis. Those born between 1995 and 2010 belong to Gen Z, a group often stereotyped as having a poor work ethic. However, it has been reported that Gen Z's approach to work is shaped by their values, priorities and desire for work-life balance. Perceptions of 'laziness' may, in fact, be rooted in generational misunderstandings rather than reality. Participants chant slogans during a climate strike demonstration organised by the international movement Fridays for Future. Photo: EBRAHIM NOROOZI/AP Adhering to generational classifications arbitrary Of course, the classifications are somewhat arbitrary – children born at the beginning of this year are no different than those born at the end of 2024. 'It's more like the zodiac signs,' says Maas. In other words – some people put stock into this – and others not. In addition, phenomena are sometimes associated with a particular age group, even though they are not characteristic of it as a whole. Maas cites the equation of Gen Z with Fridays for Future and sustainability. A study by his Institute for Generation Research showed that only about 15% of young people identified with their so-called generation. Wars and technical innovations shape personalityHowever, it is undisputed that there are generational differences. This can be seen in everyday things: older people ring doorbells instead of sending a WhatsApp message telling a person they are visiting that they are 'downstairs.' And they like to make phone calls often – instead of sending voice messages. 'The core idea of age cohorts is plausible,' says Hurrelmann in an interview with dpa. 'Wars, upheavals, technical innovations leave traces in people's personalities, and this is especially true in adolescence, when people are shaped for their entire lives. Of course, everyone is unique, but there are also many similarities.' Those who went through puberty around 2020 were very strongly influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, for example. Are today's teenagers a 'coronavirus generation? 'Studies show that this has led to considerable uncertainty. You could almost speak of a 'coronavirus generation.'' says Hurrelmann. However, it is important to note that not everyone has had the same experiences. 'It makes a huge difference whether you experienced the coronavirus pandemic in a stable family home, where your parents earned well and were able to switch to working from home, or whether you had parents who had economic problems and were really thrown off course as a result.' 'And these differences are easily obscured by the cliched division into generations,' he adds. Hurrelmann says generational labels such as baby boomers and Gen X, Y and Z have become very common, not only in marketing and advertising, but also in science. — BRITTA PEDERSEN/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa What's expected for Gen Beta 'You can always speak of a new generation when there is a noticeable change in circumstances,' said Maas, the generational researcher and book author. The famous Gen Z – born between about 1995 and 2010 – is, for example, the first generation to have grown up with social media and cyberspace as a matter of course. The consequences of this development can hardly be overestimated. 'Members of Gen Z touch their smartphones about 4,000 to 5,000 times a day and unlock them several hundred times,' says Maas. 'It's fair to say that never before in human history has an object been touched and used so often.' Maas expects that those who have been labelled as Generation Beta will be even more digitalised and, above all, influenced by artificial intelligence (AI). 'The majority of them will work in jobs that don't even exist yet. They will encounter a labour market for which they provide all the experience, and no one to train them, because they are the first.' It's also a world in which it will become increasingly difficult to know which data can be trusted. What is really true, what is AI-generated, and what is not? Maas is convinced that 'AI will not make the reality of life easier and more convenient for today's babies, but much more complex and challenging.' Hurrelmann believes that it is not yet possible to say much about Gen Beta with any certainty – except for one thing: It will in all likelihood be a very small generation, because the birth rate is currently falling. – dpa
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Generation Beta: the next leap
From Gen X, who bridged the analog-digital divide, to Gen Z, the first digital natives, and Gen Alpha, immersed in AI-driven learning, each generation has reshaped the technological landscape. In my published pieces Generational Continuum, Gen X, and Gen X and Gen Z in Conversation - published in The Express Tribune - I explored these transitions and their societal impact. In my op-ed Millennial Journey, also published in the same newspaper, I examined how Millennials uniquely bridged the transition from analog to digital, laying the groundwork for much of the tech ecosystem that Gen Alpha and Gen Beta now take for granted. Now, as a senior faculty member studying technological and social shifts, I critically examine the trajectory of Generation Beta (born between 2025 and 2039). What kind of world awaits them in an era of hyper-automation, immersive synthetic realities, and the seamless fusion of human and artificial intelligence? While Gen Alpha grew up in the AI age, Gen Beta will go further - they will co-evolve with it. As AI becomes more autonomous and intuitive, human decisions will be shaped by real-time, predictive intelligence. Whether in education, medicine, or governance, AI will no longer be a tool but an embedded force shaping cognition, interaction, and problem-solving. Unlike previous generations, for whom technology was an external aid, Gen Beta will experience AI as an ever-present force, seamlessly integrated into their lives, anticipating needs, and influencing choices in ways we are only beginning to comprehend. The transformation of education will be profound. AI-driven personalised learning will replace traditional classrooms with immersive, interactive experiences powered by augmented and virtual reality. AI tutors will tailor content in real time, shifting 'knowledge acquisition' from structured curricula to an evolving, anticipatory process. While this hyper-personalisation offers unparalleled opportunities for efficiency and accessibility, it also raises concerns about the erosion of traditional learning values such as perseverance, critical thinking, and independent problem-solving. Yet, this deep integration with AI comes at a cost. If Gen Alpha struggles with digital dependence and declining social interaction, will Gen Beta face an even greater detachment? Digital fluency will be a given; the real test will be their ability to maintain human connections in a world that prioritises efficiency over empathy. With decreasing face-to-face interaction, emotional intelligence and deep interpersonal relationships could become endangered traits, placing new pressures on families, educators, and policymakers to counterbalance AI's pervasive influence. The workplace will evolve as automation reshapes jobs, making adaptability and emotional intelligence essential. AI-managed systems may dominate, with humans focusing on high-level tasks while AI handles execution. Traditional careers could give way to fluid, on-demand roles, creating a paradox of peak productivity alongside an identity crisis about meaningful contribution in an AI-driven world. Parenting will face new challenges. If Millennials introduced structured, tech-driven parenting, Gen Beta's caregivers will navigate a reality where human intervention in learning is minimal. Will AI-driven convenience erode resilience, creativity, and the ability to learn from failure? When AI anticipates every need, suggests every decision, and mitigates every risk, will Gen Beta retain the ability to struggle, innovate, and persevere through challenges? As neural interfaces blur the line between human and machine cognition, Generation Beta will confront unprecedented ethical dilemmas surrounding identity, autonomy, and consciousness. They may not only use AI but become integrated with it, challenging the very definition of what it means to be human. While inheriting unparalleled efficiency and opportunity, their deeper responsibility will be to uphold creativity, emotional intelligence, and moral reasoning - ensuring that humanity's essence remains intact in an age where machines may surpass human intellect.
