Here are some of the factors that defined a generation.


Baby Boomers
(1946-1964) 
Gen X
(1965-1979)
Millenials 
(1980-1994)
Generation Z
(1995-2009)

Iconic Technology
TV, Transistor Radio
VCR, Walkman, IBM PC
Internet, Email, IM, XBox, iPod
iPad, MacBook, Facebook, Wii


Movies & TV
Easy Rider, Colour TV
ET, MTV
Titanic, Pay TV
Avatar, Smart TV


Landmark Events
Neil Armstrong, Vietnam War
Berlin Wall, Challenger
September 11, Columbine
Asian Tsunami, Iraq War


Financial Values
Long-term needs, Cash, Credit
Mid-term goals, Life-stage debt
Short-term wants, Lifestyle debt
Impulse purchases, Life-long debt


Popular Culture
Barbie®
Body piercing
Baseball caps
Skinny jeans


Sales & Marketing
Mass media
Targeted media
Electronic media
Interactive campaigns

Influencers
Experts
Practitioners
Peers
User forums

Ideal Leaders
Thinkers
Doers
Collaborators
Co-creators

Think about this...

To which generational cohort do you belong? How do your needs, wants, and values compare with those of other generations? What is the landmark event in your life? Some suggest that the next generation might be called Generation Alpha. What do you think will be the defining factors of the next generation?