Latest news with #KnowYourMeme
CBC
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
The 'Gen Z stare' mocks youth for staring into the void, but is anyone laughing?
First they came for our elders, mocking their supposedly outdated opinions with a single, repeated refrain: " OK, boomer." Then, they came for millennials, like, rather aggressively, making fun of their ankle socks, coffee dependence, for pausing before speaking in videos and for knowing which Hogwarts house they'd be sorted into, all while stealing their baggy jeans and butterfly hair clips. Certainly, they came for Gen Alpha, calling them Sephora Kids for having 24-step skincare routines by the age of nine. And Gen X, well ... no one's bothered mocking them recently, which we, of course, mock them for. But now, at last, social media is turning the mirror on Gen Z, roasting this youthful generation for its supposed habit of, well, staring. Coined the Gen Z stare, it describes the "blank, expressionless" look that the younger generation gives the older generation, according to Know Your Meme, particularly in customer service settings. It's used instead of a greeting or small talk, the site says. This blank gaze into the middle distance/void/job market has been the recent topic of debate on TikTok, where different generations argue over whether it's rude, a symptom of overwhelm, a product of growing up during the pandemic, a communication deficit — or just another generational stereotype. Some people are mocking Gen-Zers, suggesting they don't know how to communicate, and maybe that's fair, said TikTok user Efe Ahworegba in a video posted last week with 11.7 million views. "But a lot of older generations talk too much, too rudely and too proudly," she said. She described working in a fast food restaurant where an older customer demanded a cheeseburger without cheese, but with pepper jack, all while insisting pepper jack was not, in fact, cheese. In another interaction, she went on, a customer complained an iced tea was too cold. "I really don't know what these people want from me. Of course I'm just going to start staring at you." Alexis Salter, 23, of Kingston, Ont., told CBC News she believes the stare is "100 per cent" a real phenomenon — she says she's done it before while working in customer service — but that she believes people misinterpret it as rudeness. "I've had some people ask me what their PIN is when making a transaction, so I will admit I've had to process what they've said with a blank stare and pause to think before I say my next thing," Salter said. "It's also more of a reaction I give when people are being rude or ask very common-sense questions." 'Processing how to respond perfectly' The first use of the term that Know Your Meme could track down was by a TikTok user last July, when a millennial asked, "What is up with this weird stare that Gen Z be doing? I swear, every time I'm in public and it's a Gen Z worker, they just stare at you, like, even if you say something." But the term itself only recently took off. According to Google Trends, U.S. searches for " gen z stare" more than quadrupled over the past week and are currently at an all-time high. Searches within Canada have also spiked over the last few days. Why the sudden, intense interest? It could be that unlike, say, ankle socks, the debate over the stare touches on deeper issues, like how young adults and teens are coping with the lingering effects of COVID-19 lockdowns while facing the worst youth unemployment rate in decades. Generation Z largely came of age during the isolation of the pandemic, tend to prefer digital communication and report higher rates of anxiety than previous generations. Recent surveys have shown that some managers are hesitant to hire younger workers, citing a lack of soft skills like communication and collaboration. The stare is just one example of a workplace red flag and really shows how this generation is struggling, says Barry Garapedian, president of U.S.-based firm MAG7 Consulting, and who specializes in helping young adults get workplace-ready. "Years of communicating through screens — where you can edit, delete and carefully craft responses — creates anxiety when forced to respond spontaneously in person," Garapedian said in an email. "They're processing how to respond 'perfectly' instead of simply responding authentically." Nuance to the stare There's more nuance to the trend than people realize, said a 22-year-old TikToker who identified herself as Maya, in a recent video where she lamented what she sees as the loss of small-talk skills in her generation. "Instead of attacking ... maybe we could look inwards, and get curious about why we are the way that we are." Jean Twenge, an expert on generational differences at San Diego State University and the author of Generations, agreed the stare might be due to social anxiety and having less experience with face-to-face social interactions. "Gen Z spent much less time with people in person during their teen years, and that's a crucial time for developing social skills," Twenge told CBC News. "If there are actual differences between the generations, that's not a stereotype. Gen Z really does have less experience with face-to-face social interaction." Salter, in Kingston, says she doesn't mind the trend, but adds she mostly sees the stare in people age 15 to 20. "The younger Gen Z, I think, COVID has definitely robbed us of our people skills," she said. "It's definitely a puzzled reaction rather than intending to be rude." WATCH | How did the Gen Z job market get so bleak?: How did the Gen Z job market get so bleak? 1 month ago Gen Z graduates between the ages of 15 and 24 are facing the highest unemployment rate the country has seen in decades, apart from the pandemic. CBC's Paula Duhatschek breaks down what's behind the surge and what it could mean for a whole generation of Canadians.
ABC News
4 days ago
- General
- ABC News
What is the gen Z stare and what are young people trying to tell us? Experts explain what is happening
A deadpan glare is not unique to any age group, but gen Z is becoming known for theirs. Discourse about the "gen Z stare" has taken over social media. On TikTok and X, people are debating about the stare, which seems to only occur in gen Z. So what is the gen Z stare and why does it happen and what are young people trying to tell us? Here's what to know: The "gen Z stare" is the blank, expressionless stare some gen Zers will give in place of a greeting or small talk, commonly seen in customer service jobs. According to KnowYourMeme, the first known mention of the gen Z stare appeared on TikTok on July 29, 2024, in a post by @ However, the discourse on the stare began to trend on various social media platforms in mid-2025. The look, likened to a deer in the headlights, can appear emotionless and passive, and the intention is subject to much online debate. Some say the reaction is given when someone makes a stupid comment. Others describe the stare as similar to "buffering" to understand what has been asked. Many are quick to point the finger at increasing screen time, claiming it is impairing social skills. However, some describe it as a symptom of over-tiredness from working in the demanding and often low-paying retail and hospitality industries. Gen Z is typically defined as people born between 1997 and 2012. Key features of this group, according to the Stanford Report, are that they are the first to not experience the world without internet, they value flexibility and diversity, and many spent their early to late teens in lockdowns due to COVID-19. Social researcher Mark McCrindle said gen Z made up 30 per cent of the workforce and roughly half of the casual retail workforce. He said that was likely why the stare had become associated with that particular generation. Many gen Zers finished their high school education during lockdowns, leading to a preference for online study. Mr McCrindle said their research showed gen Z also had a preference for online shopping and interacting with chatbots rather than call centre staff to solve customer service issues. "So their own preference is just for the efficiencies of interaction through technology," he said. "Yet for their paid work, they're having to interact with people face-to-face. "When that's an older generation, that's where you sometimes get those generation gaps really emerging." However, psychology lecturer at Edith Cowan University Shane Rogers said there was no definitive scientific evidence that lockdowns had caused any social skill impairment. But he said it was possible, having spent formative years in "a very strange situation" that was the COVID-19 lockdowns, could have had a lasting impact. "I do think that that potentially could have contributed to what the current social norms are with the younger generations to an extent," he said. "But it's probably that plus the more basic level increase of communication via online social media that that generation grew up with." Gen Zer Grace, born in 1999, is a self-confessed starer. She said she did not think the stare was purposeful or trying to convey anything in particular. "It's more just like a disconnect, maybe when things get overwhelming or you're annoyed or there's a lot of pressure on something, it's more it just kind of happens," she said. To her, it's not a rude response, not even to greetings or small talk. "I don't find not having a response to small talk as an offensive thing when I'm hanging out with my own age or hang out with someone who's older than me." She said while she understood how small talk worked, in social interactions with people in her age group, talking to strangers was not a priority. "We just have a different type of conversation norm that's very different from when I see my parents go to barbecues, for example," she said. Being part of the generation raised on the web means Grace is also meeting more people virtually. "Talking on the internet, you skip that initial small talk phase, you're straight to the top of the conversation because someone said something interesting about a TV show you like or someone sent you a meme or someone's reposted something, you're immediately into the specificity of a conversation topic and not the small talk of it. Mr McCrindle said the stare could also be a disconnect with changing language and expressions. For example, an older customer might try to order a "malted milk" that is now more commonly known as a "milkshake", confusing the server. This can also occur in emerging styles of stores. For example, frozen yoghurt stores that require self-service and weighing are easy to navigate for a gen Zer, but customers in other generations might have questions on how they work. To a gen Z server who finds the system simple, the stare could convey confusion as why someone else is having difficulty. It could be likened to an older person asking a millennial how to print a PDF — an obvious task to the younger person but unfamiliar to the person who grew up before computers. Within the customer service industry specifically, where previous generations had been expected to be consistently pleasant, it could harbour resentment for the younger generation being less performative. Mr McCrindle said gen Z valued authenticity, which meant they were not always "prepared to play the game" in customer service jobs, particularly in roles they knew were not long-term. "They aren't overly dutiful to employers, they're aware of their rights and what they need to do," Mr McCrindle said. "They might say it's authenticity … but it does come across as being a bit cold or uncaring. "It's not that they don't care, it's just that they want to be real and not sort of put on the fake voice and the fake warmth." However, Dr Rogers said the social shift could also be influenced by millennial managers. "Maybe they didn't like having to do that so much because it felt a bit fake and they're not pushing that onto the younger generation," he said. Dr Rogers said staring was a natural part of human behaviour and used to convey a variety of different messages. "It can be used to show boredom. It can be used to sometimes show … apathy or disdain," he said. He said part of the reason the gen Z stare could feel awkward was a misinterpretation of meaning from the older generations, particularly when they believed it was a message of disdain. The stare could also be used to pause and consider a response, Dr Rogers explained, where older generations were more likely to instantly respond. Unique generational behaviours are not exclusive to gen Z. Millennials (1981-1996) are often made fun of by gen Z for the "millennial pause" — a brief pause at the start of a video recording. Their predecessors, gen X (1965-1980) labelled millennials selfish, with Time Magazine printing a cover calling them the "me me me generation". Gen X's elders, baby boomers (1946-1964), have labelled them as "lazy" due to their stereotyped cynicism. And baby boomers even have their own version of the stare — known as the "lead paint stare", implying baby boomers blankly stare as a result of poisoning from lead-based paints used prior to their ban in the 1970s. What all these stereotypes have in common is they are observations of other generations. [shane] Dr Rogers noted that generation comparisons were being ramped up, particularly on TikTok. "This has been going on for some time, and the 'gen Z stare' simply seems to be the latest iteration of this," he said. "Generations have been doing these comparisons for time immemorial, but nowadays there is this medium that allows for those conversations to be ramped up. "If there were more boomers and gen X that use TikTok, you would probably see more conversations about that as well, but the main users are millennials and gen Z right now, so that is where a lot of the conversation is at." It might be. The gen Z stare has already had a page created on KnowYourMeme. Users on X and TikTok have created several memes about the stare.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Meet Rayyan Arkan Dikha, the viral ‘Aura Farming' kid from Indonesia
Meet Rayyan Arkan Dikha , the 11-year-old Indonesian sensation whose boat-top dance has taken the internet by storm. A video of Rayyan performing a stylish, rhythmic dance on the bow of a racing canoe has gone viral across social media platforms, making him an unexpected global star. His performance sparked the rise of the phrase 'aura farming', which is now being widely used in internet culture. How Did He Go Viral? The video, originally posted to TikTok in January by user Lensa Rams, shows Rayyan dancing at the front of a long traditional boat during Pacu Jalur , an annual rowing festival held in Riau, Indonesia. Rayyan's calm demeanor, slick black outfit, and sunglasses — combined with his hypnotic, repetitive dance moves — captured the imagination of millions. Social media users began remixing the video with different songs, celebrities chimed in, and creators worldwide tried to mimic his movements. His newfound fame even earned him the official title of Tourism Ambassador for Riau Province , and he was awarded a government scholarship in recognition of his cultural impact. What Is 'Aura Farming'? According to Know Your Meme, 'aura farming' became popular in 2024 as a term describing someone who repeatedly does something cool or stylish to project an aura or vibe — especially in the context of anime or Gen Alpha slang. Rayyan's graceful and effortless moves made him the perfect embodiment of the term. Live Events Why Is He Dancing on a Boat? Rayyan's dance isn't just for show — it's part of Pacu Jalur, a centuries-old rowing competition where each boat includes a Tukang Tari (literally, 'dancer') who performs on the bow to boost team morale and energize the rowers. Rayyan has been a Tukang Tari since he was 9 years old and has now become the face of the tradition thanks to his viral fame. From Local Hero to Global Meme Though Pacu Jalur takes place every August, Rayyan's clip found new life this year as it spread rapidly online. Celebrities like Travis Kelce, who compared his own dance moves to Rayyan's, helped boost its reach. Kelce's video alone racked up over 13 million views. Soccer star Diego Luna even used the dance as a goal celebration during a U.S. Men's National Team match against Guatemala. The dance has been recreated by everyone from party teams like the Party Animals (a spinoff of the Savannah Bananas) to global brands and influencers like Steve Aoki, Adidas, AC Milan, and PSG. Rayyan Arkan Dikha may just be 11, but his viral moves have connected centuries-old tradition with modern meme culture — all while putting Indonesia's cultural heritage on the global map. With Inputs from NYT
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
What is ‘aura farming'? This Indonesian tween will show you
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The video of Dika dancing on the boat has gone viral, with many recreating the dance on social media. In the past few weeks, Rayyan Arkan Dikha, an 11-year-old boy who lives in Indonesia and, according to his local government, goes by Dika, has been hard to miss on social media, even if you have never heard of his name. A video of him dancing on the front of a boat has become an internet sensation and is the reason 'aura farming' has become a popular phrase. The video has been overlaid with various songs, imitated by countless creators, commented on by celebrities and, most recently, led to Dika being named a tourism ambassador for Riau, the province in Indonesia where he lives. While many of the videos featuring Dika have amassed millions of views around the world, his popularity in the United States – and the explosion in use of the phrase 'aura farming' – has come despite relatively little information being available about him or the race he competes in. What is aura farming? According to the website Know Your Meme, the expression was popularised in 2024 largely in reference to anime characters and various celebrities. It generally refers to someone who does something repetitive to look cool and build, as Gen Alpha would say, aura. Dika, who seems strangely calm on the bow of a thin boat, dressed in black and wearing sunglasses, uses a series of repetitive movements in his dance, making him a perfect fit for the term. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore boosts nuclear viability, safety research with new institute and $66m in additional funding Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Singapore Over 12,000 lower-income households to receive $60 in transport vouchers by end-July Singapore NDP 2025: Leopard tank transmission fault identified, vehicle to resume role in mobile column Life Anti-smoking advisory in new plaque for controversial samsui woman mural World Trump nominates 'alpha male' influencer to be ambassador to Malaysia Business CEO pay: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? Business Popiah king Sam Goi makes $123.5 million offer to buy rest of PSC Why is he dancing on the front of a boat? In the original video, which was posted on TikTok in January 2025 by a user named Lensa Rams, Dika is participating in an event in Riau called Pacu Jalur, which roughly translates to 'boat race'. It is part of an annual festival that dates back hundreds of years, and each of the long canoe-like boats in the race has, as part of its large crew, a Tukang Tari who dances and provides inspiration for the rowers. Dika, who has participated in the races since he was 9, has become the face of the tradition, but each boat has its own Tukang Tari, and each brings a different vibe to the race. How has this spread so quickly? The video has been around for months – Pacu Jalur is held in August – but it has exploded in popularity in the last few weeks, at least partly because the dance is easy to imitate. In addition to the various creators on Instagram and TikTok who have tried their hand at Dika's dance, it has been posted about by Travis Kelce, the NFL star and boyfriend of Taylor Swift, who compared his own moves to Dika's in a video with more than 13 million views. The dance was recreated on a baseball field by the Party Animals, a rowdier cousin of the Savannah Bananas, with a TikTok of their rendition receiving more than 5 million views. It was even used as a goal celebration by Diego Luna of the United States men's national soccer team in a win over Guatemala last week. Is the kid getting anything for all this attention? On July 8 , the government in Riau, citing the impact of the video and the fact that he had been 'inspiring local kids to embrace and preserve their traditions,' named Dika as a tourism ambassador for the province. The Riau governor, Mr Abdul Wahid, awarded him a scholarship for 20 million rupiah (S$1579) for his education. Dika also performed a rendition of his dance along with Mr Wahid and other officials. 'Wow, I'm so happy,' Dika said in Indonesian in a notice from the government about the scholarship. 'I never imagined I'd meet the governor.' He can most likely expect quite a bit more attention when Pacu Jalur returns in August . NYTIMES
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is TikToker Justin Guzman? Influencer turns himself in after fatal Houston Galleria Mall shooting; check his net worth
Justin Guzman , a popular American TikToker , has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting incident inside a parking garage near Houston's Galleria mall. Anthony Sanders , 30, was killed in the incident, which took place in a parking garage at the Westheimer Road address around 5 p.m. on June 3, 2025, according to local media reports. Guzman, 22, the second suspect in the shooting case, turned himself in to police on Monday, June 30, 2025, and he, along with accomplice Marko Cinan, has been detained and charged with murder. The Houston Police Department (HPD) discovered Sanders with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Guzman, 22, appeared in Probable Cause Court overnight. According to news website Click 2 Houston, the court alleged that as many as 10 shots were fired by both suspects, which claimed Sanders's life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Who Is Justin Guzman? Guzman, a resident of Houston, Texas, rose to fame and garnered a significant following on TikTok, amassing over 130,000 followers on his main account despite facing regular bans, according to the Know Your Meme website. After his main account was banned, he recently started operating through a separate one, @guzmanhimself1, where he managed to garner 52,000 followers as of July 1, 2025. Live Events As far as his content on the short video sharing website is concerned, Guzman mostly does lip dub and dance videos. He often features his friends in his videos. Besides lip dub and dance, the 22-year-old is also popular among the masses for his comedy skits, according to the Know Your Meme website. Guzman has a decent fanbase and enjoys popularity, but no information about his social media earnings or net worth is available on the internet. He has often been compared to Vector from the Despicable Me animated movie for his colorful tracksuits and his Edgar haircut.
