Akademik

(NEKS.tur)

n.

A person who is part of the generation born in 1978 or later.

While there is wiggle room of a year or so, here are the basic generation names and the born-between years for each: WWII or the GI generation, 1909-1932; swing or silent generation, 1933-1945; baby boomers: 1946-1964; Generation X or Xers, 1965-1977; and, Generation Y or nexters or millennials, 1978-2002.

— Jane Greig, "Who are you? Talkin' 'bout our generations," Austin American Statesman, October 19, 2002

In the United States today, elderly patients are seeking "eternal youth," and "Xers" and "nexters" are trained to be smart customers. These trends and others are posing challenges and opportunities for providers.

— Toni Vranjes, "Expert Sees Bright Future for Providers Who Adapt to Change," Medical Industry Today, August 28, 1998

Today's word is a tribute to big-time corporate marketing. In the late 90s, Pepsi aimed its "Generation Next" ad campaign directly at the youth market, even securing contracts to place vending machines — and, controversially, lots of advertising — in schools throughout North America. This youth focus caused the phrase Generation Next to become a synonym for Generation Y, and before you know it a marketing slogan appeared to have a demographic seal of approval. Members of this group became known as Generation Nexters, then Gen-Nexters, and finally just Nexters or nexters.

Note, however, that Pepsi didn't invent the phrase Generation Next. It was already kicking around the culture as a play on the generation that came after Generation X. The earliest use I could find is from 1993.

Note, too, that although my definition appears definite regarding the starting year of this generation, there is no such thing as definitive in the fuzzy science of demographics. Some authorities place the generation's initial birth year at 1980, others 1982. Some demographers even say the generation stopped in 1995 and that the kids born since then are the millennium busters or millennium kids. At this point we shrug our shoulders, say "Oy!," and move on with our lives.