Gen Z, vacant stare
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Millennials and Gen Z are having it out on TikTok over this facial expression. Here’s everything to know about what the 'Gen Z stare' is and why everyone is up in arms about it.
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Some say the Gen Z stare signals poor communication and social skills. Psychologists and generational experts told BI that's not necessarily the case.
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Now, to be fair to zoomers, a few weeks ago there were a few posts — and a write-up from the New York Post, naturally — complaining about the Gen Z "gaze" from service workers. That's seemingly related to the "stare" debate now, but it's certainly evolved.
Cultural habits shift from generation to generation, and a notable Gen-Z social trait may actually be our fault.
If a young person in customer service is giving you a blank stare, perhaps you're the one who's being unreasonable.
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Learn why the "Gen Z Stare" is more than a blank, disengaged expression, why employers can't afford to misread it and what its deeper more serious meaning really holds.
Karli Mayer, a 25-year-old dental hygiene student in Denver, Colorado, said she will unleash her “Gen Z stare” when something weird, unexpected, or a little “cringe” happens, or when she cannot hear exactly what was said.
Banarsë compared it to the "Millennial Pause," a brief moment of silence before speaking in a video, adding that today's social quirks go viral more quickly. Banarsë added that the stare is part of Gen Z's move toward authenticity and boundary-setting—where emotional labor isn't automatically performed to meet outdated norms.