Zalphas (also called Zalpha, Gen Zalpha, or Generation Zalpha) are a social cohort encompassing individuals born on the cusp between the latter years of Generation Z and the early years of Generation Alpha. Sources typically describe Zalphas as those born during the late 2000s to mid–2010s. They have been described as children of younger Gen X and older millennials.^[1][2] The term is used in marketing, research, and generational studies worldwide, including in Australia, Europe, Asia, and North America.

The term Zalpha is a portmanteau of "Generation Z" and "Generation Alpha". It refers to a micro-generation or cusp generation that bridges the two larger cohorts.^[3] The concept has been discussed in international contexts, including European marketing literature and academic research.

There is no single universally agreed-upon birth-year range for Zalphas, as generational boundaries are fluid and subject to debate. Sources generally place them in the late–2000s to mid–2010s, often overlapping with the end of Generation Z and the beginning of Generation Alpha.

McCrindle Research, which coined the term "Generation Alpha" and popularized the concept of Zalpha, describes Zalphas as individuals born on the cusp between Generation Z (1995–2009) and Generation Alpha (2010–2024), based on McCrindle's definition for the two generations respectively. Rather than defining a strict numerical range, McCrindle emphasizes the transitional nature of the cohort as a bridge between the two generations.^[4][5]

Gina Desiderio (Healthy Teen Network) defines Gen Sigma as those born between 2007 and 2013.^[6] Ben Rosen (Connect)^[1] and Vicki Ostrom and Sonia Mulford Chaverri (Screen Printing Mag) define the cuspers as those born between 2008 and 2014.^[7] Geetika Chhatwal defines the cuspers as those born between 2010 and 2015.^[8]

Other international sources include Maarten Leyts, a Belgian author and generational expert (who defines the cohort as 2006–2012^[9]), 20Something, a European perspective in Belgium (which defines it as 2008–2013^[10]), and academic studies in Poland (e.g., Springer-published research^[11]).

Zalphas are influenced by traits of both Generation Z and Generation Alpha, often sharing strong, polarizing connectivity to one adjoining generation over the other.

They are characterized as being "digital natives familiar with digital gadgets and technology from the cradle."^[12]

A 2023 Business Insider article cited a survey according to which Zalphas expressed a preference for fewer romantic or sexual plotlines in TV shows, instead favoring greater emphasis on friendship or platonic relationships.^[13] According to Stephanie Rivas-Lara and Hiral Kotecha, two of the survey's authors, this could stem from being isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic: "Young people are feeling a lack of close friendships, a separation from their community, and a sense that their digital citizen identity has superseded their sense of belonging in the real world".^[13]

• Interbellum Generation
• Generation Jones
• Xennials
• Zillennials