The Millennial Generation has taken center stage in the news, latest trends, public opinion, and our beloved social media addictions. We’ve all heard of Gen X and millennials but between these two, there is a micro-generation: Xennials. For the label conscious, Xennials are people born between 1977 – 1983. Here are 10 signs you’re an Xennial.
but thank your lucky stars you can get sh*t done online. I still keep a journal, a to-do list and handwritten birthday cards. However, I don’t miss filling out forms at the doctor’s office, job applications or DMV paperwork. Faxing documents were such a pain, and paying bills with bank checks felt like Russian roulette. I cherish the convenience the Internet provides and as an Xennial, I don’t take it for granted.
but love ordering exactly what you want online. I’m not afraid to compliment a girl on her balloon sleeve crop top, but there is no way I’ll Amazon Prime it til I try it on in the store. If I’m 100% satisfied after trying it on that’s when I click “Go to Shopping Cart.” The hassle to return things outweighs the humbling experience a dressing room and unflattering lighting provides. But if I approve, skipping the line in favor of Apple Pay feels great!
Getting my own phone line at 12 was a major milestone. Talking was the best! Next came the pager at 16 turning digits into short words. Finally a cell phone; we got to ditch quarters at college, and press the dial pad a 100x before a sentence amassed. Xennials are comfortable speaking on the phone just as much as they are texting; I would even go as far as to say we have a better handling of etiquette when deciding to call or text. But who doesn’t like an occasional emoji exchange with your honey while Netflix and Chilling…alone…or possibly with his best friend?!
but you still follow your local Mr. Softee Truck. Without context, Twitter comes across like a Morse code nightmare. Once Xennials get used it, we find the value…like following food trucks we’re obsessed with and having no other way of knowing when they’ll hit our neighborhood. Now if it can only alert me when I’m in it’s vicinity. A Gen X’er would be perplexed by the mere idea. An Xennial would say “I’m sure there’s an app for that.” A Millennial would text you the app.
I took pride learning the streets of Manhattan when I was old enough to ride the subway, and held onto an LA tourist map for dear life when I moved there after college. But nothing beats knowing the best way to *make it* in Hollywood is to take Fountain, a quick right onto North Sycamore, a left on Lexington Ave, a right on Seward St, and then La Mirada will be a pain in the a** but Waze is never wrong.
Downloading Postmates, entering your credit card information, browsing available options, and realizing the restaurant you really want to order from is not listed because they use GrubHub is a burden. Whatever happened to calling take-out and giving the delivery guy cash?! Xennials are all for convenience but when it turns into doing 10 steps to order pizza, that’s when we Yelp nearby spots with the “delivery” filter and call it a day.
Before Apple watches and apps, there were things called “travel guides” and “approaching strangers” for directions and places to stay. Xennials had to rely on old school tactics to make the best travel decisions. “Let’s Go” and “Lonely Planet” books were tools to help along the way while we practiced language, social, and intuitive skills to navigate new territory. Aside from luxuries like Google Translate and Airbnb, Millennials can take a page from Xennials next time they land in Mykonos. Ask a muleteer strolling by with his donkey where Paradise Beach is…and then take a selfie and be on your way.
Giving in to the online dating phenomenon was one thing, but Xennials still fantasize about meeting their dream bae on the grocery line- oh wait, we have Instacart now, nevermind. Well for those of us who still go food shopping the old fashioned way…we still can’t resist clicking on our Bumble notifications rather than make eye contact with the looker on aisle 3. It’s sad, but true.
When “selfie” became a word in the Oxford Dictionary I nearly died on the inside. The art of the selfie has really been mastered by Millennials, yet all generations partake. If Gen Xers are resistant to it, Xennials play the game to be included, but not without that little voice inside yapping while you struggle to find an angle different from the ones you always take, “You’re so vain, how do you live with yourself?”
Xennials have one foot in the ‘Good Ol’ Days’ and the other in “Instagram Stories.” Where maybe one generation uses their upbringing as a crutch to stay connected, Xennials take advantage of both worlds harmoniously…well at least that’s the goal. I don’t go anywhere without my gadgets, but I know when to put it down. Being present for the moments with people you care about is by far more satisfying…in the long run, then checking your Likes; you can do that at the end of the day. Set a reminder if you have to. There’s an app for that.
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