<p>Terms like "Gen Z", "Boomer" and "Millennial" are popular, but they have no basis in science. Demographers and social scientists are now pushing back.</p><p>Generational labelling, they argue, is akin to Astrology and while politicians, journalists and media influencers find them irresistible, they actually promote pseudo-science, sew social division and can reinforce prejudicial stereotypes.</p><p>So why are generational labels so popular?</p><p>Original broadcast on February 9, 2025.</p><p>Guests</p><p><a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/bobby-duffy">Professor Bobby Duffy</a> — Director of the Policy Institute, King's College London. Author of The Generation Myth.</p><p><a href="https://www.popcenter.umd.edu/mprc-associates/pnc">Professor Philip Coen</a> — Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland</p><p><a href="https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/crystal-abidin-e5ea630d/">Professor Crystal Abidin</a> — digital anthropologist and ethnographer of vernacular internet cultures, Curtin University</p><p><a href="https://www.commerce.virginia.edu/faculty/dpc3dn">Professor David Costanza</a> — Professor of Commerce, University of Virginia</p><p>Further information</p><p><a href="https://familyinequality.wordpress.com/2021/05/26/open-letter-to-the-pew-research-center-on-generation-labels/ ">Philip Coen’s open letter </a>to Pew Research Center on generation labels </p><p>Pew Research Center's <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/05/22/how-pew-research-center-will-report-on-generations-moving-forward/ ">response</a></p>