Originally coined as specific and meaningless categories of age, the increasingly popular notion of the three generations, X Y and Z, have become more than just a reflection of birth years. What started out as an unchangeable horoscope for age has developed into a personality quality.

Gen X, the name given to those born before 1970, can be described as literary, imaginative and patient. Gen Y, those born before 2000, are more intellectually inclined in areas such as mathematics, technology and decision making. Gen Z, however, is a new generation appearing to be born anytime after 2000. Brilliant in law and debate, this generation’s priority is efficiency and management.

“But what does this really mean?” Laura Notario, sophomore, said. “It all seems kind unnecessary.”

It’s an answer to a complex question that researchers have cracked over the course of three decades. Based on the influence of evolving cultural customs, people are subject to different ways of living. For an example, Gen X has been restricted to the amount of technology they were exposed to growing up, and as a result they have become more literarily inclined. Unlike Gen X, Gen Y (or “Millennials”) have been exposed to technology since the beginning of major technological corporations like Apple and Google making them more “tech-savvy”.

In my opinion this development of observation over the last couple of decades is interesting. However, this really means nothing and is a general stereotype. In addition this is fairly new, which means this notion has yet to go viral; that could affect its development in the long run.

Some people believe this is a new and interesting way to categorize each other. Like a horoscope, people are now able to define themselves using a universal language. However, some people believe this is an unusual and disrespectful way of placing labels on people.

“This seems over exaggerated,” Mckinlee Robins, sophomore, said. “I mean the correlation isn’t exactly correct all the way through. They’re people born before 1970 who are good with tech and there are people born after 2000 who are good with literature.”

“It seems kind of wrong to place labels on someone,” Jake Wood, junior, said. “Especially when these labels are named such things as X, Y and Z.”