Gen Y, Net Gen, Gen X, Young Boomers - Generations Explained

The Howe and Strauss book, Generations: The History of America's Future, 1584 to 2069 defined the terms used to describe the generations but the Pew Research Center suggests that the two decades of Baby Boomers should be divided into separate generational groups. Some of these differences are illustrated in the chart.

The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project reports in Generational Differences in Online Activities, that "Generation Y, or young adults generally 18-32 years old who grew up in the Information Age, have been dubbed the ‘Net Generation.’ But, while these 'digital natives' may be savvier with their gadgets and more keen on new uses of technology, their elders in Generation X, the Baby Boomers and older generations tend to dominate Internet use in other areas."

Since 2005, broadband access has doubled for many age groups and tripled in oldest groups. So watch for the older generations to start to catchup to their younger counterparts.