There's a term for people born in the early 80s who don't feel like a millennial or a Gen X-er — here's everything we know

Xennials are a 'micro-generation' born between 1977 and 1985.
This group has also been called the 'Oregon Trail Generation.'
Xennials may have been hit hardest by the recession, because of a combination of student loan debt, job losses, and other factors.

It's hard not fitting in.

If you feel sort-of-but-not-quite like a millennial, and sort-of-but-not-quite like a Gen X-er, take heart: You might just be a Xennial. That's a term for the "micro-generation" born between 1977 and 1985.

The term was coined in 2014, by Sarah Stankorb in Good Magazine. Recently, people have started talking about Xennials again, with self-proclaimed members of this demographic waxing (read: tweeting) nostalgic about Oregon Trail and flip phones. Merriam-Webster even labeled "xennial" one of its "words we're watching."

Below, Business Insider has outlined the defining characteristics of Xennials, and how they're different from the generations that came before and after them.

Xennials are a 'micro-generation,' born between 1977 and 1985.

Source:

This group has also been called the 'Oregon Trail Generation,' in reference to a popular computer game when they were growing up.

Source:

Xennials were the first generation to grow up with household computers and have internet access. ('You've got mail!')

Source:

Xennials are naturals at social media, though they grew up without Facebook, Twitter, or even MySpace.

Source:

Many Xennials didn't get their first cell phone until they were in their 20s. Instead, they had to call their friends' homes and talk to their parents first.

Source:

By the time Xennials were 20 years old, the music industry had changed completely. Instead of buying cassette tapes, you could download songs on Napster.

Source:

Xennials aren't quite as cynical as the stereotypical Gen X-er, but also aren't quite as optimistic as the stereotypical Millennial.

Source:

Xennials may have been hit hardest by the recession, because of a combination of student loan debt, job losses, and other factors.

Sources: and

You can take a quiz from The Guardian to see whether you qualify as a Xennial. There are questions about owning 'New Kids on the Block' merchandise, making mix tapes, and remembering the advent of car phones.

Here's the quiz.

Source:

There's a term for people born in the early 80s who don't feel like a millennial or a Gen X-er — here's everything we know

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!