Name: What Is The Gen Z Stare?
Uploaded: 2025-08-14T09:14:10.000Z
Duration: 10 min 15 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Adverbs of manner

So apparently there's something called the Gen Z stare.

Reflexive pronouns

Now, I don't think I personally experienced it, or maybe I just haven't noticed being part of Gen Z myself.

But today we're going to investigate whether we genuinely come off as socially off-putting to other generations, or if this is just another internet myth created by bitter millennials.

Either way, before we start, make sure you are subscribed.

Saying that we don't really know how to talk to people, we can't communicate.

And no, we can communicate quite well, actually.

And you've decided to show up to this establishment with your last two remaining brain cells from 1954.

And we just can't say that because we're at our job.

The only thing that bothers me about this is like, do you think that we as a generation are just so much smarter than every other generation?

For Gen Z's first reaction to be like, actually the Gen Z stare is something we do because we're smart and you're stupid.

Without even understanding what was being said, just immediately being like, we're smart, you're dumb.

What you guys are talking about is a universal customer service experience.

Gen Z does that for mandatory small talk.

And it's not because we don't know how to communicate and we don't know how to talk to people.

It's because you don't have common sense.

So the Gen Z stare is usually defined as a blank face, deadpan expression, and oddly intense eye contact.

Now, one theory is that it comes from the fact that post 2020, a lot of us were left very socially awkward.

And then you combine that with the fact that many of us spent our formative years online, not as far gone as Gen Alpha, but still, especially during our teen years, right?

When your main form of communication has taken place through screens, emojis, and now TikToks, it's no wonder that real socialization, especially with strangers, can feel awkward or even unnatural for some in Gen Z.

This is a Gen Z stare everybody's talking about.

Actually, I have experienced something like that, but it was with a waitress and she was like 40.

We sat down, we were waiting and she came to our table.

She just looked at us and did not say a word.

We were like, oh, okay, well, we'll have this.

Usually you would go to the table as a waitress or a waiter and say, hi, what can I get you today?

Something, you know, a little communication.

I mean, in this case, if someone asks, you could say, yes, we sell cookies.

If you're very tired, you might feel like, obviously we sell cookies, but instead you just stare for a second and then you say yes.

But let me just say this, because a lot of people complaining about the Gen Z stare are cashiers.

If you're flipping around your little iPad screen asking me for a 200% tip after all you've done is hand me a water bottle, yeah,

I'm gonna give you that stare because absolutely not.

I do think it makes sense to take a pause to avoid saying anything rude, especially when you're dealing with very difficult or rude customers.

However, some psychologists and media outlets weighed in and they suggest that the so-called antisocial behavior might just be a side effect of Gen Z social development like we discussed before, right, with COVID.

Now, when it comes to real life small talk or basic customer service interactions,

Gen Z can come off as a little bit glitchy.

So that may be that pause that they take, right?

Not because we're rude, but because we simply haven't had as much in-person practice.

That's one theory, especially in service jobs, right?

That blank stare isn't necessarily attitude.

Sometimes it's someone just freezing under pressure or they're just confused and trying not to say something blunt in response to a ridiculous customer service question.

I don't think this is only an issue found in Gen Z though.

Okay, I'll take a hazelnut cold foam cold brew, please.

Okay, now my theory is that it's an energy mismatch.

So they're expecting the, hi, how are you today?

A lot of people try to be nonchalant to seem cool.

But I do think we're just naturally a little bit less enthusiastic.

And it's harder for us to put on that fake cheerful attitude if we're not really, you know, feeling it, maybe.

Because yes, basic politeness is part of the job.

But if someone is yelling, someone is being condescending, or someone is saying something like, oh, you piece of, give me that, give me this, give me.

You don't have to be like, oh, of course, sir.

You don't owe them that fake grin and chipper attitude all the time.

You should, of course, handle the situation professionally, but you're allowed to stand up for yourself even in this kind of job, regardless of what generation that person is from.

You should not be expected to tolerate disrespect in silence if it's escalating in that way.

Of course, it depends on what is being said.

I don't think anyone should feel obligated to smile or act overly friendly when someone is being rude, whether it's a stranger, a coworker, or whoever.

I'm not going to smile and pretend everything's great just to keep the peace, personally.

But I think that's what other generations are noticing about Gen Z.

You can handle the situation maturely without performing fake politeness for someone who does not deserve it.

I don't mean some elderly couple walks in and asks you a bit of a silly question.

But if someone is completely out of line and being rude and cursing you out or something like that, yeah.