Zoomers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A label denoting members of the cohort born after Millennials, specifically recognized for their adeptness with technology and social media engagement
2. This designation applies to the generation following Generation Y, highlighting their fluency in digital platforms and active participation in contemporary social discourse
3. Individuals born after the Millennial generation, often characterized by their familiarity with modern technology and social media usage

Etymology: Generation Z was given its nickname by a blend, and the blend's first public appearance is pinned to a corporate presentation. On 16 March 2016, aviation engineer Jennie Santoro, working at the HNTB office in Seattle, gave a talk titled "Boomers to Zoomers: Passing the Torch to Generation Z!" Merriam-Webster identifies that as the earliest use of the word in its current sense, a clipping of "Generation Z" tacked onto "boomer," the label for people born roughly between 1945 and the early 1960s. The word did not spread through the office, though. It took off through an internet meme: a variant of the Wojak image that appeared on 4chan on 21 July 2018 carried it onto other platforms. Urban Dictionary usage figures suggest it gained traction in mid-2018 and peaked in January 2020. The ending does most of the work. "Zoomer" is built from the "Z" of "Generation Z" with the "-oomer" of "boomer" attached, so the word reads as a generational sequel to the older label.