Defining events in the life of the Generation Z¶

Events grouped by the life stage the Generation Z cohort (born 1997–2012) was in when they happened.

Childhood (ages 6–12)¶

• 2011 — Fukushima nuclear disaster
• 2012 — Facebook files for IPO
• 2012 — Instagram is sold to Facebook
• 2012 — Psy releases "Gangnam Style"
• 2013 — Waze is sold to Google
• 2013 — Orange is the New Black launches on Netflix
• 2014 — Whatsapp is sold to Facebook
• 2014 — 2014 celebrity nude photo leak
• 2016 — The movie Deadpool proves R-rated movies can be succesful
• 2016 — Donald Trump wins the US elections

Teenage years (ages 13–20)¶

• 2019 — Apple launches Apple TV+ streaming service
• 2020 — Brexit: UK leaves the EU
• 2020 — WHO declares COVID-19 a global pandemic. Start of a wave of lockdowns.
• 2022 — Will Smith hits Chris Rock @ 2022 Oscars
• 2022 — US Supreme Court overturns abortion rights

Last updated: 2026-06-04