Millennial: 5 Things You Should Know

Question: Researchers William Strauss and Neil Howe named the Millennials in 1991, long before they grew up. Why pick that name?

Answer: The name comes from timing: the oldest Millennials finished high school around the year 2000. The label stuck before the youngest members of the generation were even born.

Question: Pew Research says Millennials were born from 1981 to 1996. Why did Pew pick 1996 as the final birth year for the group?

Answer: Generations are often defined by shared memories, and 9/11 was a turning point Millennials remember. Those born after 1996 grew up in a world already shaped by it.

Question: Many Millennials did homework by hand as kids but owned smartphones as young adults. Why is their tech story seen as unique?

Answer: Millennials are often called the bridge generation: their childhoods had landlines and encyclopedias, and their adulthoods had smartphones and social media. Facebook itself was started in 2004 by a Millennial college student, Mark Zuckerberg.

Question: Many Millennials finished school between 2007 and 2010. Why did that timing shape their careers and money for years after?

Answer: The 2008 financial crisis hit just as many Millennials were starting out, which meant fewer jobs and lower starting pay. Economists have found that graduating during a recession can lower earnings for a decade or more.

Question: In 2017, a millionaire claimed Millennials can’t buy homes because of avocado toast. Why are they really buying homes later?

Answer: Millennials have reached homeownership later than earlier generations, mainly because of rising prices, debt, and recession-era setbacks. The avocado toast jab became a symbol of how their money struggles were misunderstood.