Latest news with #GenZStare
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First Post
2 days ago
- General
- First Post
What's the ‘Gen Z stare' that has got the millennials and Gen Z fighting in the office?
Oftentimes, we have heard about the problems of Gen Z at work. And now, comes a new issue — the 'Gen Z stare'. Millennials at the workplace describe it as a long, blank and expressionless stare. But experts contend there's a reason for it. What's going on? read more The Gen Z and millennial war continues. This time, it's over a deadpan glare that has been dubbed the 'Gen Z stare' and has sparked an intense debate on TikTok and other social media outlets. But this is more than just a trend or phase — it's a practice that has got managers and employers rattled. But why is it that a facial expression has got people all heated up? Why is it becoming a topic of concern in the workplace? We get you the lowdown on the 'Gen Z stare' and what it means. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What is the 'Gen Z stare'? At work, have you ever encountered a blank, expressionless stare from your Gen Z colleague given in place of a greeting or small talk? Have you been at a coffee shop, where the barista has just given you the blankest expression when you have placed your order? If yes, then you have been encountered the 'Gen Z stare'. Many describe it as a fixed, unblinking look which has been described as a lack of 'basic politeness', while others say it makes them feel as though their custom isn't welcome. Most notice that the 'Gen Z stare' is most apparent in the customer service industry. It is unclear how the conversation started on TikTok, but it seems that it has got everyone talking. Most millennials and older people say that it can be likened to a deer in the headlights — appearing emotionless and passive. Others describe the stare as similar to 'buffering', a pause that allows the starer time to understand what has been asked of them. Thirty-year-old Riley Despot described the time she received the 'Gen Z stare'. She says that she had taken daughter to a golf lesson with a young teenager. In a video on TikTok, she Despot said she greeted the instructor and thanked her for agreeing to teach her daughter how to play golf. In response, she said she was met with a stare and a 'yeah.' 'I was just confused after the interaction,' she said. 'I did some self-reflection and I was like, 'Did I do something wrong? Did I not read the social situation right?'' Meanwhile, many Gen-Zers say it's their way of responding to someone making a stupid comment or behaving badly. For instance, 19-year-old Efe Ahworegba told the New York Times that the 'Gen Z stare' challenges the way customers often treat people in the food service and retail industries. 'The 'Gen Z stare' is basically us saying the customer is not always right,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ever hit 'em with the Gen Z stare? 👀 Producer Julie, our resident Gen Z expert, breaks down exactly why it happens… and what it really means. Spoiler: It's not (always) shade. 🎥 Watch the moment that has every Millennial rethinking eye contact. #AnnaAndRaven #GenZStare — Live 93.5 (@Live935fm) July 16, 2025 Why has 'Gen Z stare' become an issue at the workplace? But what does this blank stare have to do with the workplace? Managers and employers are concerned that the 'Gen Z stare' is a result of lack of communication skills. For instance, in customer-facing roles like those in hospitality and retail, communication and interpersonal interactions are essential for businesses to succeed. Customers are less likely to enter a business if they perceive the workers to be unapproachable or disengaged, reducing sales. It's also reflective of the generational clash in the workplace. A rising number of mid- and senior-level managers cite 'communication breakdown' and 'increased emotional strain' as reasons to step away from the job. In fact, a report by education magazine found that 18 per cent of managers have considered quitting because of the stress of hiring Gen Z. Fifty-two per cent of managers reported Gen Zers causing tensions in the workplace among older employees and 27 per cent of managers said they avoid hiring Gen Z staff altogether. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Is Covid to blame for the 'Gen Z stare'? While this debate battles on, some are trying to decipher the underlying reason for it. Some Gen-Z individuals have, in fact, blamed Covid for it. As one X user wrote, 'As an early Gen Zer, I haven't noticed the 'stare' so much in early Gen Z but late Gen Z for sure (2007 onward), not sure why. In fact, a lot of people around my age complain about how younger people are lacking empathy and social skills almost entirely.' 'If I had to guess, it's probably a mix of Covid hitting right when they became teenagers and the dominance of the internet in almost all aspects of life. They were pretty much chronically online the second they were old enough to use a computer.' A whopping 51 per cent Gen Zers, themselves, note that their social skills declined because of limited in-person interactions during Covid lockdowns in a 2024 Preply survey, compared with 47 per cent of millennials, 37 per cent of Gen Xers and 26 per cent of Baby Boomers. Others also blame anxiety for the Gen Z stare. Samantha Quigneaux, the national director of family therapy services at Newport Healthcare, told SheKnows, 'Disruption of daily routines, social isolation and distancing, academic pressures and changes in methods of learning, uncertainty about the future' are all factors that Quigneaux said 'strongly contributed to heightened stress and anxiety levels' among teens. 'Those 'unprecedented times' also left our youth with disrupted critical social and emotional learning environments,' she explained. 'This has led to them having to navigate their teen years and young adulthood with [fewer] skills and emotional resources in our ever-changing world.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Who do you think is right in this instance — Millennials or Gen Z? With inputs from agencies
NBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Gen Z is staring at you. It may be more than just a quirk.
When professor Jessica Maddox asks her University of Alabama students a question in class, she is sometimes met with blank, deadpan looks from the Gen Zers in the room. The look has become so prevalent that Maddox occasionally resorts to begging her students for a response. It was only recently that she learned this behavior had a name: the 'Gen Z stare." 'When I first started hearing talk about the 'Gen Z stare,' and people were kind of explaining what it is, I was like, 'Oh, my God, this is what happens to me as a college professor,'' said Maddox, an associate professor of digital media. While 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. It often appears judgmental and on TikTok, many Gen Zers — typically defined as those ages 13-28 — have claimed it's because those who doing the staring are dumbfounded or disinterested in engaging with, what they call, 'stupid questions.' 'I don't think it's a lack of social skills. I just think we don't care,' said Dametrius 'Jet' Latham, a TikTok creator and Gen Zer who recently picked up more than 1.4 million views on a video about the topic. The hashtag #GenZStare, which has been used in about 8,000 videos on TikTok, began picking up steam earlier this month and hit its peak Monday. A search for the term on TikTok revealed videos showing millennials calling out Gen Z, and more videos of Gen Z firing back at the term they appear to find insulting. Maddox has a theory as to why the "Gen Z stare" has become so pervasive now. 'This [look] very much accelerated after we returned to campus after Covid protocols,' Maddox said, adding that she noticed an "increasing amount of silence" after posing questions to her class in the wake of the global pandemic. Due to social isolation during the pandemic, many students faced increased mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression. Face-to-face interactions became less common amid social distancing protocols and many schools temporarily switched to remote learning. Because Gen Zers were socialized during a pandemic, they came of age building relationships on social media, Maddox said. This may have led to the development of unique types of communication skills among those who are 27 years old or younger. Additionally, because most members of the generation don't remember a time without social media, they fear anything they say or do could end up being mocked online — or worse, get them canceled. Some experts say young people deadpanning their elders can be observed as far back as the 1950s and 1960s, with the rise of youth culture around rock and roll, Elvis and The Beatles. The blank stare and other forms of defiance can also be seen in 1980s films, such as Howard Hughes' 'Pretty in Pink' and 'Sixteen Candles.' The latest iteration of this defiance is likely not just a hallmark of dissent, but also a response to social anxiety developed during formative years in isolation. 'I think we are starting to really see the long-term effects of constant digital media use, right?' said Jess Rauchberg, an assistant professor of communication technologies at Seton Hall University. 'We think of the phone as an appendage to our bodies.' Gen Zers also fear being "cringe," a term they often use to describe other generations that came before them. Intergeneration feuds have long been a core part of platforms like TikTok, and they're often spurred on by Gen Z. One of the most famous instances of intergenerational spats was the rise of ' OK Boomer,' a phrase used by Gen Z and millennials alike to belittle the older generations who they see as out of touch. It doesn't stop there. Gen Zers have criticized Gen Alpha, their younger counterparts, for their ' blue light stare,' a disengaged nonchalant look those born between 2010 and 2024 use. They also have mocked boomers for what they call the ' lead paint stare," a look that is described as being confused or befuddled by a response to a question. At one point, there was no greater sin to a zoomer than 'millennial cringe.' While some Gen Zers have embraced the label, others still fear it being applied to them. On TikTok, compilations of 'millennial cringe' have received millions of views and thousands of comments from young people mocking what they perceive as millennial behaviors, such as calling dogs 'doggo,' or making things like Disney or 'Harry Potter' their whole personality. Psychotherapist Robi Ludwig suggested that the "Gen Z stare" reflects the gap in social skills between members of Gen Z and millennials. 'If it's a processing thing, it's hard to imagine someone wouldn't know how to nod or respond with a smile or just say 'OK,' but we may take for granted some of the social skills we have developed over the years because we didn't have technology to deal with and we didn't have to be isolated from our peers," she said. As people of other generations mock the 'Gen Z stare,' many zoomers have grown defensive, posting videos calling out people for their criticism of the trend. Some younger users online have also clarified what exactly the "Gen Z stare" is and isn't. TikTok Santana, who is a member of Gen Z and works as a bartender, said in a video that "the customer service stare is the stare a worker gives somebody for asking someone something f---- stupid." Whereas, "the 'gen z stare' is the lead paint staring that customer service workers receive instead of response to anything." Maddox, of the University of Alabama, said that this type of reaction online be exactly what some are hoping for, adding it could be posted as a form of 'rage-bait' from creators to farm engagement. 'Internet culture loves a generational feud,' she said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Listen up, millennials: We asked 7 Gen Zers what they think about the 'Gen Z stare' debate
Business Insider interviewed seven Gen Zers about the viral "Gen Z Stare." Ranging in age from 17 to 27, some agreed with the criticism — others flatly rejected it. "I think you're just talking to a rude person," one Gen Zer said. Another suggested Gen Zers may stare blankly while high. A 21-year-old from Boston thinks the "Gen Z stare" is overblown. A 20-year-old from the Bay Area said she sees it all the time. A 17-year-old heard from her parents that she had been inadvertently doing it. Conversations with seven Gen Zers indicate young people are divided on the idea that their generation often responds to questions with blank, wide-eyed stares, as many millennials on TikTok have gleefully suggested. Some told Business Insider they flatly rejected the idea that there is such a thing as the "Gen Z stare" — others said they saw it firsthand. Those who said there could be some truth to it floated potential contributing factors, such as lingering effects of COVID lockdowns, an adolescence spent online, or maybe that blank stare is simply coming from someone who is high. While not everyone agreed, they all had thoughts on the viral debate. So listen up, millennials. It's time to pass Gen Z the mic. Brenda Alarcon, 20 On a recent visit to Coldstone Creamery, Brenda Alarcon asked a young worker for their favorite flavor. The employee stared back at them. "The transaction was made with minimal words," Alarcon said. Alarcon said she's seen the "Gen Z stare" in professional settings, too. At a recent networking event, she noticed that the other Gen Z networkers would "freeze up." "I'm the one that's keeping the conversation going," she said. "It's not just one time, it's multiple." She has her suspicions as to the root cause. The COVID-19 pandemic is an obvious answer, she said. Another theory stems from her earlier days as a waitress, when she would serve blank-staring young customers. "It's because they hit their pen," she said, referencing the slim, THC oil vape pens that became popular in the last five years. Trinity Starr Rutledge, 17 Trinity Starr Rutledge told BI she thought the trend was "pretty stupid." Working as a cashier and desk assistant, she's had many millennials stare back at her requests at small talk. "I think you're just talking to a rude person," Starr Rutledge said. "I don't think it's right to label our generation as people who have this stare." To the millennials posting about the stare, Starr Rutledge had a message: "It's not our fault that we're cooler." Megan Easton, 26 Megan Easton said she accepts the idea that her generation is more socially awkward than the others, especially the younger members of Gen Z who grew up on social media. (At 26, Easton identifies as a "Zilennial.") Still, Easton said she mostly believes that her generation's stare is an air of nonchalance. "It comes from a lack of caring as much what people think," Easton said. "Where an older generation might think it's rude or not socially acceptable, Gen Z is more to the point, and their humor's a little drier." Easton said that the stare shouldn't make older generations think Gen Z is "disrespectful or unintelligent." It's merely a difference in how different generations communicate, she said. Lindsey Cook, 27 Lindsey Cook likes to start her interactions with Gen Z baristas by saying, "I'm ready to order when you are, no rush." That way, if the barista does have social anxiety, it allows them to work on their own timeline and not just stare back. "It's very uncomfortable," Cook said. "Things need to be relearned now that we're resuming life as normal as possible after COVID." Online, some young people have retorted that small talk isn't mandatory, or that they didn't consent to a conversation. "But when they take a job in hospitality or customer service, it's their job to make people feel welcome," Cook said. Emerson Hubbard, 17 Emerson Hubbard thought she was too nervous to give off a "Gen Z stare." Then, she talked about it with her parents. "I was talking to my family today and they were like, 'You have done it before,'" Hubbard said. "I get it. Sometimes I just zone out in the conversation and I'm just staring at them." Hubbard said she doesn't think of the stare as much of a problem. She sees a "one-sided" debate between millennials and Gen Z, especially in her TikTok comments, where she said a lot of millennials were "going ham." Eli Toy, 25 Eli Toy was raised by Gen Xers, not millennials. Toy said that she's "open to conversation" — but that other Gen Zers may be less fluent in small talk because of that generational difference. "From what I've seen, a lot of Gen Zers that were raised by millennials had more technology in their childhoods, so that could impact it," Toy said. "The biggest tech I had was a pink Nintendo." Netta Dar, 21 Netta Dar has seen the "Gen Z stare" before. She referenced the character April Ludgate from the TV show "Parks and Recreation," who often stared down her colleagues with non-responses. Interestingly enough, April, played by actor Aubrey Plaza, is a millennial in the show. That could suggest that the "Gen Z stare" isn't specific to Gen Z, but to people who are still developing their social skills. While Dar hasn't seen the stare among her college-aged friends, she said she does notice some social awkwardness in her younger sister's friends. "It definitely depends on the age as well, and how far along you are in your development, where the frontal lobe is at," Dar said. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Psychologists and generational experts say there's more to the 'Gen Z Stare' than meets the eye
It's not polite to stare — especially, as it turns out, if you're Gen Z. Social media users have described the now-viral " Gen Z Stare" as a vacant, wide-eyed expression often accompanied by an awkward silence. Many of the videos say it happens during retail and customer service interactions, or in painful workplace conversations. While some say the look might reflect lagging soft skills and questionable office etiquette among Gen Zers, psychologists and generational experts told BI the phenomenon could have more to do with natural growing pains at a first job and factors unique to Gen Z's upbringing. And, they noted, intergenerational criticism isn't anything new. "Every generation critiques the generation below them," Ellen Hendriksen, a behavioral psychologist and social anxiety specialist, said. "This is nothing new." Many Gen Zers are working their first jobs Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist who has written about twentysomethings, doesn't buy the trope that Gen Z as a whole is awkward or socially inept. She said what people may be seeing with the Gen Z Stare is likely a result of Gen Zers navigating the workplace for the first time. "For most young employees, working with people of other ages and generations is new," she told BI in a statement. "Blank stares you receive from young workers may be more about not knowing what to do and not feeling confident on the job than about their trying to be (passively) aggressively Gen Z." Megan Gerhardt, a professor of leadership at Miami University and founder of said that customer service jobs, where many social media users claim to see Gen Z Stares, are commonly first gigs. Hendriksen, a parent of two Gen Zers, said the cohort might not be as up for acting "fake," which could impact their customer service interactions. "Gen Z might be less willing to do the people-pleasing part, but that means that some of the professionalism has also gotten lost," she said. Growing up online could play a part Many factors could be at play in what Gerhardt calls the emerging "norm shift," including the fact that Gen Z tends to spend more time on screens. "The idea that now that I'm in a face-to-face customer service situation, and I'm supposed to rally an entirely different set of expressions and responses — that might not be something that Gen Z is either used to understanding or has learned yet," she said. Gerhardt said it's naive to "underestimate" the impact the COVID-19 shutdowns could have had on young people's development, but Jay said she doesn't buy into the notion that Gen Zers are "damaged or stunted" because of the pandemic. Hendriksen thinks the wordless Gen Z Stare could also be a real-world echo of a now-common digital experience: In a Zoom meeting, one person may say hello, only to have nobody respond because they're all muted. "Meet them where they're at" The three experts told BI that regardless of the root causes behind the stare, it's crucial to equip young people with the communication skills they need to thrive in an in-person, multigenerational workforce. "With respect to the workplace, nearly half of Gen Zers think they don't have the skills that workplaces want—and they're right," Jay said. Universities, she added, generally don't teach students crucial workplace abilities like communication and professionalism. Hendriksen agreed that there's a "skills deficit" for Gen Zers in the customer service and retail space, in part because of the pandemic,but said that the group isn't a monolith. It's normal for norms around professionalism and etiquette to shift, Gerhardt said, but it's more productive to work with young people on striking the right tone than to try to mock them. "If we want to make sure that we don't lose this personal touch, then let's meet them where they're at," she said. "Let's invest in helping them understand why that's important and see what they need to get where their bosses or customers feel like they need to go." Generational critique isn't anything new When any new generation has entered the workforce, they've needed to get up to speed on a set of skills, said Gerhardt. The viral criticism of the so-called Gen Z Stare reminds her of the " millennial pause" phenomenon and feels like the "latest iteration of generational shaming." There's been no dearth of criticism targeting various generations — whether it's that boomers are selfish, or that millennials are snowflakes whose avocado toast addiction is to blame for their finances. Now, it's Gen Z's turn. "Our culture loves to make fun of young adults and how unequipped they supposedly are," Jay said.
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Is 'The Gen Z Stare' real? Tell us what you think
TikTok is debating "The Gen Z Stare," which some describe as a wide-eyed, awkward response to small talk or questions. Some Gen Zers have countered that they're pausing to think, or staring down nonsensical questions from older generations. Have you experienced the "Gen Z stare"? Answer in our poll below. Have you experienced " The Gen Z Stare?" Millennials coined the new term to describe what some say is Gen Z's social awkwardness in workplace interactions and other daily life. According to some viral TikToks, Gen Z has a tendency to give wide-eyed stares to requests questions or small talk. TikTokers are recording skits of hypothetical Gen Z waiters staring awkwardly at their customers or recounting stories of Gen Z neighbors who freeze up when greeted. The videos have sparked plenty of debate. Some Gen Zers have rejected the idea that they have a "stare," saying that it doesn't exist. Others have said that they're only responding to the nonsensical questions from older generations, or that they're pausing to think.
