Social:Gen Z stare

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Short description: Generation Z behavior

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The Gen Z stare is a phrase coined by social media users to describe a "blank stare that members of younger generations give in situations where a verbal response would be more common".[1] Kalhan Rosenblatt of NBC News says, "[w]hile there are several definitions for the stare, the most common meaning is a vacant expression a Gen Zer gives in response to a question. The stare occurs in classrooms, restaurants, at work and more settings."[2] The term "Gen Z stare" garnered widespread coverage in the mainstream media in July 2025.[lower-alpha 1] The concept of the "Gen Z stare" was first explored in research conducted by Kaiden Jones.[11]

Description

According to Dani Di Placido, writing for Forbes, some TikTok users believe that many members of Generation Z have difficulty with small talk and fundamental social courtesies. This is often described as a blank stare that they give to some questions that are asked. Placido also says that according to TikTok users, this stare is most common during customer service interactions.[3] Similarly, some servers and bartenders have said that their Gen Z customers respond to pleasant questions or pleasant conversation with a long gaze or a "stare" instead of speaking.[3] Additionally, some TikTokers say that Gen Z employees do not greet customers or complete basic requests and instead return a blank stare.[3]

In a New York Times article in 2025, one interviewee said the attitude and stare indicate a "complete lack of f***s", adding that the stare has both supporters and detractors.[1] Generation Z-ers do not agree on an exact definition.[1]

Professors have reported encountering the stare in college classrooms when trying to elicit engagement from students.[2]

Possible causes

Regarding the possible root causes of the Gen Z stare, a University of Alabama professor said the look became more prevalent on campus following the COVID-19 lockdowns, noticing an "increasing amount of silence" after asking questions in class.[2] The stare may be an expression of authentic boredom and resistance to "performative positivity."[12] Suzy Welch, an NYU business professor, argued the stare could be coming from zoomers ranking "achievement" as a bottom-tier value, linking the stare to quiet quitting.[13] While deadpan has been around for generations, the blank stare might also be a manifestation of social anxiety developed during the enforced isolation of the COVID pandemic period.[2] Social isolation during the pandemic led to increased mental health issues for many students, such as anxiety and depression. When offline interactions were scarce, social media filled a socialization gap. The influence of social media has also led to a fear of being judged or "cancelled" online. Not wanting to be "cringe" is additionally a common theme.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Attributed to multiple sources: [1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Stock, Nicole (July 14, 2025). "Yes, Gen Z Is Staring at You. The Question Is Why.". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/style/gen-z-stare-tiktok.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Rosenblatt, Kalhan (July 18, 2025). "Gen Z is staring at you. It may be more than just a quirk.". NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/gen-z-stare-explainer-rcna219262. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Di Placido, Dani (July 16, 2025). "What Is The 'Gen Z Stare'? The TikTok Debate, Explained". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2025/07/16/what-is-the-gen-z-stare-the-tiktok-debate-explained/. Retrieved July 16, 2025. 
  4. ↑ Kit, Easton (July 16, 2025). "The 'Gen-Z Stare' Is Tormenting Business Owners. Here's How to Turn It Into Positive Change". Inc.. https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/the-gen-z-stare-is-tormenting-business-owners-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-positive-change/91214391. Retrieved July 16, 2025. 
  5. ↑ Schinco, Nico (July 16, 2025). "'Gen Z stare'? Millennials, your boomer trauma is showing". MSN Business Insider. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/career/gen-z-stare-millennials-your-boomer-trauma-is-showing/ar-AA1IHniP. 
  6. ↑ Miller, Brittany (July 16, 2025). "Millennials are confused by another Gen Z thing". The Independent (United Kingdom). https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/lifestyle/online-trend-tiktok-gen-z-b2790324.html. 
  7. ↑ Hale, Rachel (July 16, 2025). "Gen Z's blank stare is the internet's latest obsession". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/07/16/gen-z-stare-is-going-viral-on-tiktok-what-is-it/85242062007/. 
  8. ↑ Restrepo, Manuela López; Venkat, Mia (July 18, 2025). "Is the 'Gen Z stare' just a call to look inward?". All Things Considered (NPR). https://www.npr.org/2025/07/18/nx-s1-5468597/gen-z-stare-tiktok-explained-meme-expert-trend-viral. 
  9. ↑ Abad-Santos, Alex (July 19, 2025). "The real reason everyone's so mad over the Gen Z stare". VOX. https://www.vox.com/culture/420372/gen-z-stare-psychology. 
  10. ↑ Louallen, Doc (July 18, 2025). "Gen Z stare: Why young workers are giving blank looks and going viral". ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/gen-stare-young-workers-giving-blank-viral/story?id=123863541. 
  11. ↑ Jones, Kaiden (2023). "The Gen Z Stare". Zenodo. https://zenodo.org/records/17171636. Retrieved 22 September 2025. 
  12. ↑ "The Psychology Behind the Gen Z Stare | Psychology Today" (in en-US). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202507/the-psychology-behind-the-gen-z-stare. 
  13. ↑ Welch, Suzy (2025-07-17). "CEO: One stunning data point explains the 'Gen Z stare'—and why it's going to backfire on them" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/17/ceo-one-stunning-data-point-explains-the-gen-z-stare-why-its-going-to-backfire-on-them.html. 
  • Describing the Gen Z stare. NBC News. July 2025 – via YouTube.



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