Generation X facts for kids

Generation X, often called Gen X, is a group of people born after the Baby Boomers and before the Millennials. Most experts agree that Gen X includes people born from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s.

For example, many sources say Generation X includes those born between 1965 and 1980. This means people like Chris Pratt, Will Smith, Adam Sandler, Claire Danes, and Kurt Cobain are all considered Gen Xers.

What is Generation X?

Generation X is a term used to describe a group of people who share similar experiences because they grew up during the same time. They were born when the world was changing a lot. This generation saw the rise of personal computers and the internet. They also experienced big shifts in family life and society.

Who are Gen Xers?

Gen Xers are known for being independent and resourceful. They often learned to rely on themselves from a young age. This is partly because many grew up in homes where both parents worked. They also saw a rise in divorce rates. This made them more self-sufficient.

Some famous people from Generation X include:

• Chris Pratt
• Billy Corgan
• Ben Stiller
• Will Smith
• Adam Sandler
• Orlando Bloom
• Kurt Cobain
• Claire Danes
• Brooke Shields
• Sarah Jessica Parker
• Isla Fisher

What Shaped Gen X?

Growing up, Gen Xers saw many important changes. Technology like the Apple II computer started to become popular. They also saw the rise of cable television and videocassette recorders (VCRs). These inventions changed how people watched movies and TV shows.

Music was also a big part of their lives. Genres like hip hop and grunge became very popular. Artists like Michael Jackson and bands like Nirvana were huge. Kurt Cobain from Nirvana was even called the "voice of Generation X."

Later, as they became adults, the internet and early online services like America Online (AOL) became common. This connected people in new ways. Many Gen Xers were among the first to use the internet widely. Some even helped create the big tech companies we know today, like Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Images for kids

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  Douglas Coupland popularized the term Generation X in his 1991 novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture.

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  Western fertility rates, 1960–1980

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  U.S. fertility rates, 1963–1981

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  US living adult generations

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  US Marriages Ending in Divorce 1950–1990

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  U.S. Participation Rates for Women Professionals 1966—2013

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  U.S. Department of Health booklet published in 1988.

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  An 8-bit 1977 Apple II.

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  Total Fall Enrollment in US degree granting Institutions 1965–1998

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  America Online (AOL) version 2.0 program disk for Microsoft Windows (1994), widely used by younger Gen Xers to access the Internet

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  Google co-founder Sergey Brin, speaking at a Web 2.0 conference.

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  This illustration shows three cultural touchstones for Generation X: singer Michael Jackson, who dominated pop charts in the 1980s; alien characters from the popular arcade video game Space Invaders; and a videocassette, which revolutionized home entertainment by enabling TV viewers to record shows and watch prerecorded films at home.

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  The Offspring performing in 2008 in Fortaleza, Brazil

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  Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain (pictured here in 1992) was called the "voice of Generation X" in the 1990s, playing the same role for this demographic as Bob Dylan and John Lennon played for baby boomers in the 1960s.

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  This cartoon depicts a 1980s-era dancer doing breakdancing, an African-American dance form that was a key part of hip hop culture.

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  Kevin Smith is an influential Gen X indie filmmaker, his flagship film being Clerks.

See also

In Spanish: Generación X para niños