THE 3.5 GEN EXISTS (2017/2018) (+ IT’S BC OF BTS)

I think groups between (LATE 2016?) probably just 2017 and 2018 are 3.5 gen. That includes but isn’t limited to:

- Stray Kids (2018)

- Gidle (2018)

- Dreamcatcher (2017)

- The Boyz (2017)

- Ateez (2018)

- Loona (2018)

Because 4th gen started in 2019 but some earlier groups are considered 4th gen depending on the situation. Why is that? Because no one ever distinguishes 3.5 from 3rd and 4th gen but it’s important to. They’re years behind some 3rd gen but years ahead of some 4th gen.

THE REASON 2017 STARTED A WEIRD 3.5 GEN IS BECAUSE LOVE YOURSELF HER AND DNA. IT STARTED A NEW HALLYU WAVE AND BLEW UP THE SCENE WITH IFANS. WE CAN’T COMPARE 2015/2016 GROUPS WITH 2017 GROUPS.

thank you.

copied from my other comment:

i think we should acknowledge it. bts blowing up in the west jump started a new generation. but it wasn’t 4th gen. it wasn’t entirely different. but there was a HUGE shift in the debuts we were seeing.

3.5 is starkly different from 3rd gen in a way 2.5 wasn’t from 2nd gen. it caused a big shift, which is why 3.5 gen groups usually say they’re 4th gen. because they feel different from 3rd gen groups. but they also feel different from the 2019 and after groups.

so what’s the difference? they’re in 3.5. the last of 3rd gen but marked with the big shift that happened in 2016/2017

Quote from ArmyBlink0

I always felt like Blackpink was 3rd gen because the talk about how 3rd gen for ggs started in 2014. If Blackpink was 3.5 gen then 3rd gen was only 2 years..................

i think 2016 honestly barely counts as 3.5 gen. 3.5 really began in 2017

Quote from bumble-bunny

2016 groups nah. They're pretty solidly 3rd. The cutoff is around 2019/18 that's 2/3 years a difference. I think late 2017/early 2018 is 3 1/2 with 4th starting around 2018/2019

very late 2016 began the 3.5 gen but it truly started in 2017, for sure

Quote from Slayurfaves

Finally someone made a thread about this bc many of us are confused about the whole 3rd and 4th generation thing

For example, G idle feels like a 3rd gen (3.5) group to me even their age range is closer to other 3rd gen groups like blackpink and twice.

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exactly. gidle are 3.5. late 3.5, so the 4th gen comparisons always make more sense than 3rd gen ones but yeah.

Quote from rainbowblink224

How would you even describe 3.5 gen? Wouldn't it be easier to just classify the certain debut years as a whole generation?

it wasn’t 4th gen yet but bts exploding in the west jump started a new type of generation sort of. like a branch off 3rd gen. aka 3.5 gen.

there’s a stark difference between 2015-2016 groups and 2017-2018

Quote from Slayurfaves

btw nct debuted in April and blackpink in August cause you put blackpink first

i removed the 2016 groups since people mostly think they’re not 3.5

Quote from StepOut

Correction. Stray kids debut is 2018

thank you!

Quote from rainbowblink224

:eek::eek::eek:

i think we should acknowledge it. bts blowing up in the west jump started a new generation. but it wasn’t 4th gen. it wasn’t entirely different. but there was a HUGE shift in the debuts we were seeing.

3.5 is starkly different from 3rd gen in a way 2.5 wasn’t from 2nd gen. it cause a big shift, which is why 3.5 gen groups usually say they’re 4th gen. because they feel different from 3rd gen groups. but they also feel different from the 2019 and after groups.

so what’s the difference? they’re in 3.5. the last of 3rd gen but marked with the big shift that happened in 2016/2017

Quote from Slayurfaves

IOI debuted before blackpink though (May) they are clearly 3rd gen and blackpink debuted in august 2016 close to 2017.

yeah i removed all those groups as well

Quote from bingbing1

YES BESTIE THANKS FOR THIS THREAD AND NO TO THE PAST REPLIES, TXT IS THE START OF 4TH GEN.

yeah, txt and itzy started the 4th gen in early 2019!

2017 and 2018 are 3.5 gen and deserve their own category for their big differences between 3rd gen or 4th gen.

Quote from quark12395

.5 gens don't exist.

Y'all can argue about dumb shit like when the 4th gen started a you want, but a .5 gen is too stupid to exist.

it does now.

bts jump started a new branch of 3rd gen in 2017 when they blew up in the west. 2017 and 2018 groups are starkly different to earlier and later debuts in a unique way. they’re still 3rd gen (the last of it before 4th started in 2019) but clearly marked by the shift that happened when the hallyu wave saw such a huge shift

it resulted in a 3.5 gen. still 3rd gen but with BIG differences.

Quote from quark12395

Starkly different how exactly?

- girl groups are self producing

- an uptick in the amount of rappers who write their own bars or even produce

- western promotions AT debut

- debuts that focused on social issues and mental health

- US and western physical sales AT debut

- western focused release times/dates for debut releases

- and much more tbh

Quote from bingbing1

You’re honestly the only one talking about this you’re so courageous But yeah bts definitely introduced a generational shift

it caused a big difference and 2017 and 2018 groups are at a disservice being shoved to one or the other instead of just being recognized as kind of a unique half-generation of their own

Quote from jinaland

okay how is ATEEZ 3.5th gen when they competed with TXT (4th gen) for rookie,

some awards, shows, etc. will let groups who debuted within 2 years compete for rookie awards but that doesn’t make them the same gen... groups debut every year. that would mean the gen never changes....