Gen Z’s ‘Stare’: A Digital Age Reaction, Not Just Rudeness

Experts and Zoomers Weigh In on the Viral Social Phenomenon

The phenomenon dubbed the “Gen Z stare” has become a widespread online talking point, with older generations perceiving it as a blank, unresponsive gaze. However, many members of Generation Z argue it’s simply a reaction to the perceived absurdity of their elders.

The Stare Explained: Viral Trend or Generational Shift?

The term, popularized on TikTok, describes a vacant, sometimes seemingly unconcerned look that some younger individuals exhibit during interactions. Reports suggest this can manifest as a lack of verbal greeting or response, particularly in customer service roles. Some also note a related tendency among those born between 1997 and 2012 to bypass traditional phone greetings like “hello.”

This latest generational label joins a history of sweeping generalizations, from the millennial “failure to launch” to the Gen X “slacker” stereotype and the boomer trope of “ruining everything.” These labels often serve to unite disparate groups in shared criticism.

Do Zoomers Actually Stare?

For many Gen Z individuals, the concept remains elusive. Sam Delgado, a freelance journalist, expressed confusion, stating she hadn’t encountered the “deadpan stare during conversations” and that her Gen Z friends aren’t characterized by it. Similarly, Kat Swank, born in 1997, acknowledged seeing the trend discussed online but claimed not to have personally witnessed it.

“My TikTok For You Page is certainly telling me that it’s real. But I don’t think I’ve ever really encountered it, though.”

—Kat Swank

Psychology experts suggest that while direct research is lacking, some Gen Z individuals might be unaware of the behavior. The way young people look at adults may also echo patterns seen in previous generations. Michael Poulin, an associate psychology professor at the University at Buffalo, notes that students of all generations have exhibited similar vacant gazes in lecture halls.

“To some degree, it’s a comforting myth that all of us who are adults — who’ve gotten beyond the teens and 20s — that we tell ourselves that we were surely better than that,” Poulin explained. He added that older adults complaining about Gen Z likely have their own youthful indiscretions that drew similar criticism, framing it as a recurring cycle of generational judgment.

However, Poulin speculates that the current discourse around Gen Z might be amplified due to social media. Complaints once confined to private conversations are now public and potentially viral, a phenomenon millennials might understand given their own generational critiques online.

The Impact of Digital Immersion and Pandemic Shifts

A key factor contributing to the “stare” could be the altered nature of social interactions. Older generations grew up with more extensive in-person experiences predating the pandemic and the pervasive influence of the internet. These earlier social blueprints may contrast sharply with Gen Z’s digitally-saturated upbringing.

Tara Well, a professor at Barnard College specializing in social perception, suggests this digital immersion can foster a sense of “self-objectification,” where individuals, and by extension their interactions, are viewed more as images than as dynamic, feeling beings.

“If your social interactions are largely dependent on scrolling through an endless amount of faces or staring into a lens, it might affect the way you interact with humans face-to-face.”

—Tara Well, Professor at Barnard College

Well elaborated that this can lead to perceiving others as mere images or ideas, akin to flipping through a magazine or scrolling through a feed, rather than engaging with fully present individuals. This constant digital exposure, coupled with the pandemic’s disruption of formative social development, may indeed influence face-to-face communication styles.

Swank, a “zillennial,” believes her slightly earlier entry into the digital age, before the full force of sophisticated social media algorithms and the pandemic, shielded her from the most extreme effects. She posits that a social life entirely online can significantly impact one’s ability to engage in real-world interactions.

Why the ‘Stare’ Provokes Strong Reactions

The “stare” can be off-putting because it seems to negate the subtle cues crucial for successful communication, such as modulating vocal tone or responding to facial expressions. When these cues are absent, the recipient lacks the feedback needed to sustain or redirect a conversation.

“People interpret it as social rejection. There is nothing that, as social beings, humans hate more. There’s nothing that stings more than rejection.”

—Michael Poulin, Associate Psychology Professor at the University at Buffalo

Ultimately, Poulin suggests that as Gen Z gains more real-world experience, their social interactions will evolve. The inevitability of consequences for disengagement will likely lead to a shift in behavior, though older generations will probably find new aspects of youth culture to critique.