Millennials Aren't One Group — We're 3 Different Generations in Disguise

Brief Summary:
This video argues that millennials are not a single, unified group, but actually consist of three distinct sub-generations, each shaped by unique experiences and societal influences. The speaker breaks down these differences using birth years, technology, family life, and even childhood TV shows to show how each group has its own culture and mindset. If you think all millennials are the same, this video will challenge that belief in some surprising and relatable ways.

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1. The Divided Generation: Millennials Explained

The video kicks off with a bold statement:

"Millennials are the most divided generation in history. Here's why."

Millennials are usually considered people born from 1981 to 1996. However, the video points out that, instead of being one big generation, millennials actually fall into three groups — each with their own unique characteristics.

"Within those short 15 years, there are three separate millennials."

The main reason for this divide? Technology and world events changed rapidly during these years, affecting how each subgroup thinks, behaves, and even remembers their childhoods.

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2. Group One: Zenials (1981–1985)

The first group is called the Zenials (sometimes spelled as "Xennials"). These people were born between 1981 and 1985, and the name comes from the idea that they're a blend of Generation X and Millennials.

"This Zeno title comes from the fact that they are considered both Gen X and millennials."

Traditionally, generations would span around 20 years. Gen X originally covered 1965–1985, but in 1996, the cutoff shifted, and those born from 1981 onward were seen as millennials. What drove this change? The internet!

"They changed it because true Gen Xers did not have the level of technology that these later generations were getting."

If you're a Zenial, you likely remember a time before the internet was everywhere, but you also experienced its arrival and rapid spread during your youth. The speaker highlights:

"If the internet went mainstream before you graduated high school, you had different experiences from a full Gen Xer."

Some folks born even earlier, between 1977 and 1980, can sometimes be considered Zenials too, depending on their relationship with technology.

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3. Group Two: Early Millennials (1986–1989)

Next up are the early millennials, born 1986–1989. The video stresses that early millennials are quite different from '90s millennials.

"These are the millennials that don't act anything like the '90s millennials."

Most of their memories are from the 1990s, but their upbringing was still shaped by baby boomer parents, which influenced how they were raised.

"They were still raised in that tough way with most of them still being latch key kids."

A latch key kid means you possibly came home after school to an empty house because both parents were working. This shapes resilience and independence.

These early millennials still remember life before technology dominated everything, but they weren't quite as old-school as the Zenials.

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4. Group Three: '90s Millennials (1990–1996)

The third group is what the video calls the '90s millennials. Born from 1990 to 1996, this group stands apart for a big reason:

"These are the millennials that don't remember a world that didn't have the internet."

However, most didn't actually have the internet in their homes yet. Instead, the world around them was changing fast.

"…but the majority of them still did not have actual internet in their home yet, but the world around them did, making things a little bit easier for them."

This meant that while technology was everywhere, their actual use of it was still limited — but they grew up with the expectation that technology would always be around.

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5. Childhood TV Shows: A Symbol of Each Group 👶📺

To make the differences even clearer, the speaker points out what childhood TV shows these subgroups watched:

• Zenials: The "Elephant Show" (with the famous "skinnamarinky dinky dink" song)
• Early Millennials: Barney

  "I love you, you love me, we're a happy family…"

• '90s Millennials: Blue's Clues

  "We are going to play Blue's Clues 'cause that's a really great game."

These shows don't just bring nostalgia — they say a lot about the world each subgroup grew up in.

The video even adds some fun:

"The '8s millennials tend to be way more sarcastic. That's because we had these two sarcastic old farts teaching us so much at young ages."

Here, "old farts" refers to those slightly older, more cynical role models and media characters that early millennials grew up with.

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6. Personality Differences & Generational Overlap

Despite all the overlap, the three groups have noticeable differences:

• '90s Millennials often have traits more similar to Gen Z, such as a strong desire to feel included and greater sensitivity to not being included.

"Like the ones that if they don't feel included, they are definitely insulted."

• '90s millennials often tagged along with the older groups, even though their perspectives and experiences were different.

• The speaker offers a playful nudge to sensitive younger millennials:

"And if you're a '90s millennial and you watched this video and got upset, thanks for proving my point."

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Conclusion

Millennials are not just one group with the same views or backgrounds. Instead, three distinct sub-generations — Zenials, early millennials, and '90s millennials — each have unique life experiences shaped by when they were born and the changing world around them. Whether you remember dial-up internet, Barney, or your first Google search, your spot in the millennial timeline might be more unique than you ever realized.

"Within those short 15 years, there are three separate millennials."

So next time you think you "understand" millennials, remember — it's complicated!