Generation misunderstood

It seems a given that as every new generation comes of age, they believe they are different than their predecessors. Indeed, economic, geopolitical, and technological conditions greatly influence how each group experiences life. Baby Boomers (those born after World War II) experienced tremendous economic expansion while also fearing the potential of nuclear Armageddon. Generation Z (born 1997-2012) have grown up amid fast-paced technology adoption and heightened market volatility. Interestingly, a recent Economist article noted that Gen X (born 1965-1980), are the unhappy generation, with 31% of the group reporting in an Ipsos survey that they were not very happy. While the article noted that Gen X receives less than half the Google search interest compared to Gen Z, relative to their share of the population, Gen Xers still receive outsized interest.

Source: US Census Bureau, Google, May 2025