This is my understanding too. Historically we refer to time periods where life was different. People in the 1500s lived differently than people in the 1800s. It’s mostly technological advances that separate time periods. There used to be large gaps of time before technological advances caused changes in society, but that isn’t the case anymore. The 1980s were much different than the 2010s. People who were born in those time periods have much different life experiences even if they’re close in age.
IMHO, when taken simply as a group of people who have experienced a common set of cultural/societal defining events in their formative years, it’s a pretty useful generalization. For example I have no trouble believing literally born with the internet has had a significantly different effect on Zoomers than it had on us Millenials who learned to use it at the same time as our parents.
ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
MeatsOfRage@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Or smart phones. Most people under 20 probably don’t remember the world without smart phones but I can remember 20 years without them.