Life Timeline

For those born December 15, 1998.

Not your birthday? Find your timeline here.

1997
Before you were born

You're one of the first people who's never lived in a world without Harry Potter.

In November 2010, Alyssa Rosenberg wrote about why it was so difficult for readers who grew up reading the series to say goodbye to Harry Potter.

1998
Year 24

You were born in December of 1998. This year, The Atlantic celebrates its 160th birthday, making it 7 times as old as you.

The year you were born, Edward G. Shirley wrote about how internal politics and a corrosive culture compromised the effectiveness of the CIA—and why reform might be impossible.

1998
Beginnings

Around the time you were born, President Bill Clinton was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives.

In March 2003, P. J. O'Rourke wrote about Clinton's political resilience and life after the presidency.

2001

Jason Redmond / AP

The 9/11 Attacks

At 2 years old, you were part of the generation most shaped by 9/11.

The conflicts and displacements touched off around the world by the attacks have been reverberating for the majority of your life. “This ‘war’ [on terrorism] will never be over,” wrote James Fallows, a few years after the towers fell.

2007
Half a life ago

Your life can be divided into two halves: before and after iPhones.

In November 2016, Bianca Bosker described how a former Google product philosopher was working to redefine the relationship between consumers and technologies like the iPhone.

2010

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

The Arab Spring

When you turned 12, you witnessed the revolutionary fervor that transformed the Arab world in 2010, a movement led by your generation.

When 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire, he ignited a tinderbox of protests that continue to roil the Middle East, and kindled the beginnings of democracy in Tunisia.

2011

Eric McCandless / Disney

The teenage years

This is what Hollywood thought teenagers looked like the year you became one.

A.N.T. Farm premiered in 2012.

2014

Gary Gershoff / Getty Images for The Shorty Awards

Contemporaries

In 2014, Jay Versace , who was born the same year as you, posted his first video to Vine. He went on to have more than 3 million followers on Vine and 1.8 million on Instagram.

In October 2016, Robinson Meyer wrote about the end of the social media app Vine.

2016
Coming of age

Around your 18th birthday, final tests confirm the effectiveness of a vaccine for Ebola.

In July 2016, Lois Parshley wrote about legacy of the deadly virus in Liberia.

2050
Forecasts

By the time you turn 51, China is predicted to be the world's largest economy.

In February 2012, Charles A. Kupchan wrote about the world's emerging economies, and how the world will look by 2050.

Today
History in the making

History is happening all around you, every day.

The Atlantic is here to help you process it, in stories like these: