What Generation Am I If I Was Born in 1997?
Based on a common birth-year range:
Gen Z
Birth range: 1997–2012 · Current age: 29
Micro-generation: Zillennial
About Gen Z
The first true digital natives. You grew up with social media, smartphones, and streaming. The algorithm knows you better than some of your friends.
Read the full Gen Z guide →Internet Coming-of-Age Era
Born in 1997, YouTube was a core part of your growing up. Early social media shaped your identity formation in ways that still ripple through how you use the internet today.
The World in 1997
The first Gen Z birth year saw the term "weblog" coined and Netflix founded (as a DVD-by-mail service).
Your birth year is just the beginning.
Take the GenVibe Test to discover your internet personality type — one of 16 unique GenVibe Types.
Take the GenVibe Test →Frequently Asked Questions
Am I really Gen Z if I was born in 1997?
Based on the most commonly cited birth-year ranges, yes — people born in 1997 are generally considered Gen Z, though you may also identify with the Zillennial micro-generation. These ranges are not official — different researchers use slightly different cutoffs.
Why might some sources say I'm a different generation?
1997 is a boundary year. Researchers and media outlets define generational cutoffs differently. Some may put 1997 in Gen Z, others in an adjacent generation. There's no single universal standard.