Millennial Teacher's Viral Video Shines a Light on the 'Forgotten' Generation X

Millennial History Teacher Lauren Cella Explains the 'Forgotten' Generation X. In a recent viral video, millennial history teacher Lauren Cella, known as laurencella92 on TikTok, offered a comprehensive look into Generation X, the cohort born between 1965 and 1980, often perceived as overlooked compared to the larger Baby Boomer and Millennial generations. Cella's video, titled "Millennial history teacher explains why people forget 'Generation X'," delves into the unique upbringing and cultural influences that shaped Gen X. Cella highlighted the "latchkey kid" phenomenon, where Gen X children experienced free-range outdoor childhoods, often raised by Silent Generation or early Boomer parents who were either working or divorced. This era was marked by Cold War paranoia, the Vietnam War, and economic challenges like gas shortages and stagflation, leading to a generation that learned to be self-sufficient. As one commenter noted, "The parents weren’t just at work, they went out after. We were feral." The video then transitioned to the 1980s, a period of "big and loud" culture, mass consumerism, and an explosion of home media, including TV shows and movies that were not always "appropriate" for children. Cella pointed out the "Golden Age of third spaces" like malls, roller rinks, and arcades, where Gen X found community without cell phones in sight. Entering the 1990s, Gen X emerged as more sarcastic and skeptical, rejecting the excesses of the 80s and shifting towards grunge, indie, and alternative cultures. They resisted corporate influence, often labeled "slackers" by the media. However, Cella emphasized that younger generations, like millennials, "idealized their 'older cousin' generation." Cella also touched upon the challenges of the 2000s, including 9/11, the War on Terror, and the 2008 financial crisis, noting that Gen X's previous experiences with global instability made them resilient. "Gen X is kind of like, been there, done that," she stated, contrasting their coping mechanisms with millennials' turn to social media. The video concludes by theorizing that Gen X acts as a "bridge" between the more storied Boomer and Millennial generations, content to "fly under the radar" because they've always known the world to be a "mess." Cella encouraged viewers to share the video with Gen X individuals, sparking a lively discussion in the comments about parental generations and the accuracy of her historical observations.