What are Millenials? 

Generation Y, also referred to as Millennials, are persons born in the United States within the 20 years running from the year 1980 to early 2000.

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What is Generation Y?

Preceding generations to millennials, that is persons born within the 20 years running from the year 1960 to early 1980, were referred to as Generation X. 

Consequently, Millennials became also known as Generation Y, with Ad Age magazine being the first publication to use the term in an August 1993 editorial. 

Apart from Generation Y, Millennials have also had other assigned nicknames mostly premised on character traits, for example;

• Echo boomers-because many were raised by parents born during the American baby boom.
• Dotcom or internet generation-since they have had constant access to the latest technology throughout their lives.
• Peter pan or Boomerang - because a majority take time before moving out of their parents home, starting a career or committing to marriage.

Characteristics of Generation Y Millennials

Several, as well as publications, have characterized Generation Y with both positive and negative insights. 

Negative Observations

Some commonly-recognized negative attributes of millenials include:

• approach to career and life are full of unrealistic expectations; 
• lack of concern on intrinsic social values (such as charity, cultivating meaningful relationships, protection of civil/political rights, and self-acceptance among others); 
• greater concern for extrinsic factors (such as social image, having lots of money, and being famous as the basis of a successful life);
• Self-centered or selfish;
• Little enthusiasm for work;

Some believe that these negative characteristics could be perhaps millennials adapting to the information age world.

Positive Observation

Common characteristics observed in Millennials include:

• Open-mindedness;
• Receptiveness to new norms of lives;
• Confidence and self-expressiveness.