The very first Internet generation are today’s parents. No longer the young, hip kids that rule the Internet, millennials now run meetings, head families, and have come into their own. Millennials are shaping today’s work, pop, and political cultures. These six facts about the generation born between 1981 and 1996 will help us understand what shaped this generation. We’ll learn about their traits, major world events that impacted their youth, and changes in culture and technology that shaped them.
6 Millennial Facts
1. Millennials are the most confident generation when it comes to using technology. (Source)
46% of millennials state that they feel comfortable using new technological tools. This surpasses their younger Gen Z counterparts, and millennials have held the lead for the last five years. Millennials grew up in an age brimming with new Internet technology, smartphones, and apps, so learning a new app on the fly is second nature.
2. Millennials are also referred to as “Echo Boomers” and “Gen Y.” (Source)
The name “Echo Boomers” refers to the fact that millennials are often the children of Baby Boomers. Much like the baby boom, the birth period for millennials saw a population spike that followed the birth-rate dip in the years before. Millennials are therefore an “echo” of the baby boom. Gen Y is an easy term to explain. Millennials follow Generation X.
3. Millennials value authenticity from the businesses they interact with. (Source)
They appreciate transparency and personalization from businesses. They offer brand loyalty based on their experience with a company and the principles and values the brand embraces. Millennials are enthusiastic about activism and self-expression, and their buying habits and patronage will reflect those values.
4. Millennials are most likely to splurge on dining out, apparel, and groceries. (Source)
Today, millennials are often busy parents and career makers, which shows in their spending habits. They say they’re likely to splurge on dining out and groceries. Millennials were the first generation to embrace grocery delivery apps like Uber Eats and Postmates, which means they’re willing to spend extra on time-saving conveniences like grocery delivery and dining out. Their choice to splurge on apparel might reflect their need to dress up for work and career advancement.
5. Tattoos are really popular among Millennials. (Source)
Statistics show that 38% of millennials have between 1 and 6 tattoos. 18% of that number have more than six tattoos. This could be due to many millennial influencers and celebrities sporting tattoos. Tattoos and body art reflect millennials’ penchant for self-expression, while the younger Gen Z has fewer tattoos and more conservative views on body art.
6. Millennials pursue marriage and children later in life than previous generations. (Source)
The average age for a first marriage among Millennials is 27 for women and 29 for men, with 34% of Millennials waiting even longer to get married, usually citing financial reasons. While Millennials are marrying later, this doesn’t stop them from committing to relationships, with 9.2% of Millennials cohabitating with a partner.
Featured image photo credit: fauxels.
