Latest news with #GenZstare
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
The ‘Gen Z stare'? Young people need to get over this limp act of defiance
Hours after trying to explain 'the Gen Z stare' to my mother on Saturday, there it was, coming at me full beam from behind a till. I was in a stationery shop in LA, paying for a notepad, when I spotted ballpoint pens on the counter and remembered that I needed one too. Now Miss Z, let's call her, had already rung up my pad, so when, with an apologetic smile, I added 'and the pen too, please', up came the eyes. As they rested upon me, unblinking and slightly unfocussed, for what felt like a lifetime, I felt my blood freeze in my veins and my throat dry up. A nervous pulse started up at the base of my neck. Adding another hoarse 'please' did nothing, and I considered putting the pen back. The eyes were still on me, still eerily vacant, and at no stage had Miss Z blinked. How had her corneas not dried up? I never got to ask. Tiring, eventually of her own glare, the girl rang up my pen, took my money and went back to scrolling through Depop on her phone. For the past week, there have only been two topics of debate in LA: where you would and wouldn't take a lover to avoid becoming a viral meme, and what 'the Gen Z stare' actually means. According to the New York Times – one of the first to identify the phenomenon – the 'blank, emotionally unreadable expression often seen in social or work settings' on people of that age group is especially popular in the service industry, but not confined to that area. Like the flu, you know when you've had it, and it's not just a look, but a whole culture of sullenness and defiance. It's 'not about a person's lack of ability to communicate' either, but rather a refusal even to try 'with someone who's not using their own brain cells.' Although it definitely comes across as hostile (in a vague, 'really not that bothered' way), some have claimed that its roots 'lie in anxiety ' – while others have blamed it on screen usage, the Covid-19 pandemic and, weirdly, vaping. Whatever its causes, 'the Gen Z stare' is fuelling a generational feud. It's not about to disappear, either, because the more that limp little act of revolt is written about and dissected, the more Gen Z will weaponise those eyeballs.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Is the ‘Gen Z stare' real? We asked the experts: our interns.
Arts & Entertainment Is the 'Gen Z stare' real? We asked our interns. July 21, 2025 | 5:59 PM GMT The emotionless expression teens and young adults sometimes make if someone inconveniences them by saying 'hi,' tries to engage in small talk with them, or tries to take their food order finally has a name: the Gen Z stare. Why the Gen Z stare has every generation talking Related
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Gen Z's blank stare is the internet's latest obsession
Ever received an awkward response to a 'Hi how are you?' from a younger neighbor or a deer in the headlights look from a teenage customer service worker? TikTokers say there's a name for that — the 'Gen Z stare.' Users on the platform say it refers to the vacant stare young people might give in response to small talk, simple customer service questions or workplace inquiries. Hypothetical skits on the platform mocking Gen Z responses are going viral. It's sparking a broader conversation about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic technology use, and if Gen Z (the cohort born between 1997 and 2012) lacks communication skills in the workplace and social settings. What is the Gen Z stare? The Gen Z stare is a term used to refer to the blank, expressionless look some say is characteristic of young people's interactions. It might manifest as an awkward encounter with a barista or a lack of verbal response from a coworker. Most of the viral skits portray the stare in customer service interactions, where a Gen Z cashier or customer responds with a blank, wordless stare where small talk would usually fill the void, sometimes as a result of a senseless questions. "It's literally just exhausted teenagers working part time trying to put up with school while paying bills,' one person commented under a skit with 2.3 million views from TikToker Mark Gaetano, known on the platform as Snarky Marky. 'The Gen Z stare is usually just us being in complete disbelief of what we're witnessing,' says another. But commenters from other generations argued back that the stare goes beyond the typical customer service blank face. 'We're talking about the stare when anyone tries to have just a normal human interaction with you, like in the flesh, and you guys freeze,' one TikToker posted, "I can't even count to you how many times I've tried to say hi to neighbors walking by that are like in their teens and they just look at you like they just saw a ghost." More: She's working two jobs and filming it for TikTok: Gen Z's economic reality is going viral Social skills shaped by 24/7 technology and the pandemic The videos have sparked intergenerational discourse. Some Gen Zers defended the stare as a response to illogical questions from customers, while others acknowledged it as a reflection of anxiety in social interactions. And it's possible the stare is the result of Gen Z's social development being hindered during the pandemic. Online school and social distancing during lockdowns influenced how people of all ages navigated in-person interactions and awkward social situations. Plus, nearly half of teens say they're online constantly, according to 2024 data from the Pew Research Center. Gen Z, nicknamed 'the anxious generation' by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, is more anxious and isolated than older generations. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy sounded the alarm on loneliness during his term, explaining in a report that young adults are almost twice as likely to report feeling lonely than those older than 65. There are jokes about every generation's communication skills, from jabs about the millennial pause to boomers' struggles to understand emojis. Whether it's rooted in pandemic-induced social anxiety or changing workplace norms, it's a sign of how young people are engaging with the world around them. Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and@rachelleighhale on X. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Gen Z stare' is going viral on TikTok. What is it?
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's Really Behind the 'Gen Z Stare' and Why Does It Matter?
If you've caught your teen glaring at you with a blank, expressionless stare, here's what's behind it. Fact checked by Sarah ScottKey Takeaways Teens today often show a blank look called the "Gen Z stare" that can signal discomfort, not disrespect. Experts say social anxiety, pandemic isolation, and growing up online may shape how Gen Z connects in person. Even if it looks like attitude, this stare may just mean your teen feels misunderstood or a mom of three teenage girls, the "Gen Z stare' is a look I know well. Other parents of adolescents and young adults can likely also easily identify that blank, expressionless gaze that is ever-so-slightly tinged with the faint notion of being so over whatever you are saying. Not yet familiar with the "Gen Z Stare" that is also trending online? A TikTok shared by mom and creator @rileysomsendespot nails how an interaction between a millennial and a Gen Zer might play out, with the older person perceiving the stare as rude. But do younger people really intend to be giving off side-eye vibes with this behavior? Comments on the TikTok post are divided about the impetus behind the stare, with some millennials testifying that the up-and-coming generation doesn't have 'social decency' and that their 'disinterested' expression "immediately ruins the interaction.' But other commenters defend the 'Gen Z stare,' saying that it's a symptom of social anxiety, or that the look can be explained by pure and simple apathy over small talk. The common theme is that adults and kids alike are familiar with the 'loading screen'-like glare that seems to characterize Gen Z. Is the 'Gen Z Stare' Really Anything New? It's a natural conclusion to wonder if the look I get when I dare to ask my teen a question resembles the put-out expression I'd give my mom back when I was her age. Like, did Gen Z invent anything that other generations haven't been doing since the dawn of time, when cave-teens glared at their parents? 'Teens getting annoyed by certain questions and situations has been a constant throughout history,' confirms Matthew Solit, MSW, LMSW, an executive clinical director at LifeStance Health. Also, not exactly groundbreaking is that adolescence has always been an awkward time, when communicating with adults can be challenging. Just watch any John Hughes movie from the 1980s for confirmation of this strained dynamic. Even with those factors in play, however, there's no doubt that Gen Z has grown up with unique circumstances that may be impacting their behavior. Social Media and the 'Gen Z Stare' Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with social media and online access being a part of their lives from birth, and that has to have mattered in ways we are still figuring out. But is there any truth to the notion that the 'Gen Z stare' is evidence teens interact online without so much as a wobble, but struggle to engage in real-life, everyday situations? 'Many young people have become more comfortable expressing themselves through text or curated content than in spontaneous, in-person interactions,' says Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, a New York City-based neuropsychologist and Director of Comprehend the Mind. Solit agrees, telling Parents, 'The shift to more digital communication can be a big factor in social anxiety with face-to-face encounters, particularly with other generations.' He goes on to explain, 'The rules of digital communication are different. There is not the same pressure of having someone physically in front of you who needs a response when communicating via chat or social media.' But social media alone can't explain the behavior, especially since a major milestone in Gen Z's formative years was the pandemic. COVID-19's Impact on Gen Z's Social Skills The pandemic most certainly robbed our kids of at least a year that they should have been among peers in person. 'Many teens lost opportunities to engage in daily peer interactions that are foundational for building emotional attunement and social confidence,' says Judy Ho, PhD., clinical and forensic neuropsychologist and professor of psychology at Pepperdine University. According to Dr. Ho, studies have found that the pandemic increased rates of social anxiety and avoidance in teens, who may also experience more discomfort in social situations. 'It's hard to imagine that a year away from the intensive social interaction we get in school did not have an impact on Gen Z,' agrees Solit. But he also notes that the extent to which Gen Z was affected by the pandemic will be studied for many years to come. Gen Z May Be Rebelling Against Small Talk Few people enjoy small talk, such as 'Nice weather we're having.' But Gen Z is not afraid, in many cases, to show it with the 'Gen Z stare.' According to Dr. Hafeez, their particularly short attention spans in the age of social media and instant gratification may in part explain this phenomenon. 'When faced with repetitive questions or forced small talk, they don't always have the patience to respond in a way that feels genuine or worthwhile,' she tells Parents. Similarly, ask my teens, and they say that the stare signals unadulterated annoyance with questions they view as having obvious answers. Dr. Ho has seen this in action as well. 'For many teens, the stare is a subtle protest—a nonverbal way to signal discomfort with questions that feel condescending, repetitive, or judgmental,' she says. Adults May Be Misunderstanding The 'Gen Z Stare' To be clear, not all teens are taking part in some sort of mass rebellion by staring us down. In fact, experts agree that many adults may be misinterpreting the expression as rudeness, when that is not at all what's behind the 'Gen Z stare.' In addition to the possibility that some young people are experiencing social anxiety or awkwardness, thus, the stare, they may also be attempting to manage the overstimulation that runs rampant in our modern world. 'Parents should know that the 'Gen Z stare' isn't always about attitude or disrespect,' says Dr. Hafeez. 'A lot of the time, it's just how teens are managing overstimulation or trying not to show too much. They've grown up watching people online who stay calm, detached, or sarcastic as a way of being cool or in control.' Young people are navigating a uniquely pressurized world in which they face constant social comparison, according to Dr. Ho. She theorizes that the 'Gen Z stare' could be a coping mechanism. 'It speaks volumes about how young people today are managing overstimulation, performance pressure, and emotional fatigue,' she says. The 'Gen Z stare' May Have Consequences No matter the reasons behind the flat, unimpressed look that Gen Z has seemingly mastered, experts also agree on what commenters assert in the TikTok example: Since many older people view the glare as being rude, it can have serious consequences in the real world, such as lost job opportunities and the inability to form lasting relationships. 'As parents, ideally, we are responsible for raising our kids to become confident, functional, and happy adults,' asserts Solit. He says the behavior is worth addressing if you observe your teen coming across as rude to a teacher, coach, or at their job. 'For Gen Z to be successful, they will have to navigate how to talk with individuals from other generations.' And, as Dr. Hafeez points out, 'The longer it goes unaddressed, the more natural it can feel, and the harder it will become to relearn more open, connected ways of interacting.' Here's some advice for helping your teen become aware of their stare, and potentially correct it, include: Don't take the look personally. 'Coming at it with curiosity instead of judgment makes it easier to actually talk about what's going on,' advises Dr. Hafeez. Don't call out the stare in the moment. Dr. Hafeez recommends letting the behavior ride for a beat and then talking about it later when things are calm. Model the behavior you want to see in your teen. Parents should show open body language and eye contact as counterexamples to the 'Gen Z stare,' according to Dr. Hafeez. Give teens opportunities to engage with others in person. Dr. Hafeez recommends facilitating low-pressure chances to talk with adults or peers offline as much as possible. Ask questions to understand the why. Dr. Ho cautions parents not to view the stare simply as a bad habit, but to treat it as a meaningful piece of data. Ask questions such as, 'When you go quiet like that, what's going through your mind?' or 'I've noticed that you've been staring off more and more, what's going on and how might I be able to help?' Mirror back what you see. Solit says giving your child a 'Gen Z stare' may help them understand what they are putting out into the world. Solit warns parents that it may not be possible to eliminate the behavior altogether. And, as he points out, every older generation is convinced that younger generations are doomed. But, it's likely that this is not the case with Gen Z, just as it wasn't with previous generations. So, ultimately, deep breath, millennials. It'll be OK. Read the original article on Parents 😵💫 Need to unwind after a long day?
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What Is the Gen Z Stare? All About the Facial Expression 'Generationally'-Dividing the Internet on TikTok
Here's why you've been seeing the term everywhere on TikTok recentlyNEED TO KNOW The Gen Z stare is the latest trend dividing generations across the internet There's a lively debate on TikTok about whether the blank stare itself is rude or simply a response to other people's rudeness Gen Z is defending their distinct facial expressions, and sharing what it really means to themAs if there weren't enough things causing divides between Gen Z and other generations, the Gen Z stare is another one to add to the list. The online community seems to frequently get a kick out of cross-generational arguments (particularly between millennials and Gen Z), and TikTok continues to be the preferred medium for such discourse. From debates over everything from skinny jeans, side parts and phone call etiquette, each generation seems to have its own quirks and criticisms of the the latest topic sparking debate is the Gen Z stare. Users are taking to TikTok to share their reasons for dishing out the facial expression, what it's like to be on the receiving end of the stare and why this blank, unbothered look is so distinctly Gen Z. So, just what exactly does it mean to dish out a Gen Z stare? What is the Gen Z stare? Depending on who you ask — and yes, which generation they belong to — the Gen Z stare can mean slightly different things. In general, the stare itself is the blank, often emotionless look that Gen Z seems to employ largely in customer service settings when met with questions or greetings. In one recent TikTok video, user Janaye, who goes by @abovethecrest on the app, explained the expression from her perspective: 'The Gen Z stare is specifically when somebody does not respond or just doesn't have any reaction in a situation where a response is either required or just reasonable,' she says in her video. She goes on to explain a scenario where, in her job as a flight attendant, she told a member of Gen Z to put a bag under her seat in order to prepare for takeoff, only to be met with a blank stare instead of a verbal or physical response. The Gen Z-er's mother eventually had to intervene to get her child to put the bag underneath the seat. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'I heard someone else say that it seems like they're waiting for ChatGPT to tell them how to respond,' she said in the like @tiltonicatiktok have also contributed to the trend in videos highlighting how interpretations of the stare can vary between Gen Z and older generations. In the comments, other users weighed in. "Gen Z not understanding the Gen Z stare is the comprehension equivalent of the Gen Z stare," one pro-millennial user wrote."'Gen z stare!' but you just asked if our coffee was real," another pro-Gen Z stare user chimed in, insinuating that Gen Z employs their signature stare when encountering frustrating or silly user described a typical situation in which it's common to have experienced the Gen Z stare. In the video, the user pretends to order at a restaurant and is met with a blank, deadpan stare and dry one-liners from a fictional Gen Z employee in response to her attempts to order."Ngl I always leave restaurants when I get the gen z stare of a waiter at the front 😭," the user wrote in the caption. But what does Gen Z have to say about their namesake facial expression? Gen Z, of course, has been pushing back on the categorization of the stare as 'rude' or 'disinterested,' instead taking to the app to offer up another interpretation of the look: as a device employed when they believe a customer (or frankly anyone for that matter) is not 'in the right.' On TikTok, creators have been posting skits and POV videos to demonstrate the kinds of real-life exchanges that might trigger the stare — especially in customer service settings. In one clip, a user role-plays both sides of a conversation between a customer and Gen Z employee to illustrate just how baffling an interaction might be cause one to deploy the stare: 'Can I do a strawberry-banana smoothie?' the fake customer asks.'Yeah, I can do that. Anything else for you guys?''No. But does the strawberry-banana smoothie have banana in it?' In response to the question, the user delivers her best Gen Z stare. And, users in the comments were quick to support the usage of the expression in this scenario.'We stare because we are in shock,' one user commented. Another added, "'Oh you have a gen z stare' hypothetically, if you heard the words that came out YOUR would stare too 😭.' The video has racked up 12 million views and 2.7 million likes on the platform. Other videos share similar scenarios in which a customer asks a question with an obvious answer, leaving the Gen Z employee while Gen Z is pushing back against the millennial interpretation of the stare, many are claiming that the generation is purposefully misunderstanding the term. "We're talking about the stare when anyone tries to have just a normal human interaction with you, like in the flesh, and you guys freeze the f--- up," user Brooke Adams, who goes by @nolablest2020 on TikTok, clarified in one video. "I can't even count to you how many times that I've tried to say hi to neighbors that are walking by that are in their teens and they just look at you like they just saw a ghost... it is this blank deer-in-the-headlights stare that you guys have." is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Another Gen Z user weighed in, explaining that Gen Z might be confusing the "customer service stare" and the Gen Z stare for each other. 'The customer service stare is the stare that a worker gives somebody for asking something f------ stupid ... the Gen Z stare is the 'lead paint stare' that customer services workers receive instead of a response to anything.' How does the Gen Z stare relate to past trends like 'the millennial pause?' It's unclear exactly how and when the phrase was coined, but it has its roots in quite a few other online battles — primarily between millennials and Gen Z. The millennial pause, for example, is just another informal feud between the generations. The term, which describes the split-second delay before speaking in a video has been employed by Gen Z online to determine whether or not a user is a millennial, and often, to subsequently make fun of them. But if there's one thing that Gen Z and millennials seem to agree on, it's their shared feelings towards Boomers (short for Baby Boomers: the generation of people born between 1946 and 1964).Of the Gen Z stare, Adams made sure to clarify in her video that both millennials and Gen Z can remain united over one thing: "The stare we're talking about is not the one that everyone under the age of 40 gives a Boomer." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
