What Is the Gen Z Stare?
You walk into a coffee shop and try to order. The Gen Z barista behind the counter doesn’t say “hi.” They don’t smile. They just… stare at you. Blank. Expressionless. Unblinking.
Welcome to the Gen Z stare.
It’s the internet’s latest viral obsession, and it’s sparked a full-blown generational war on TikTok. From July to August 2025 alone, there were over 70,000 mentions of the Gen Z stare across social media, Reddit, and even mainstream news outlets like NBC, The New York Times, and Fortune.
But what exactly is it? And is it real, or just another overblown internet trend?
Defining the Gen Z Stare
The Gen Z stare is a blank, vacant expression that Gen Z workers (born 1997-2012) give in response to questions, greetings, or small talk — especially in customer service situations.
Instead of saying “How can I help you?” or “Have a nice day,” they just… stare.
According to NBC News, the most common definition is “a vacant expression a Gen Zer gives in response to a question.” The stare happens in classrooms, restaurants, retail stores, and offices.
It’s been compared to:
- A deer in headlights
- A computer buffering
- The blue screen of death
- A loading screen that never finishes
Where Did the Gen Z Stare Come From?
The earliest known mention of the Gen Z stare was on July 29, 2024, when TikToker @meghan.alessi posted a video saying:
“I swear, every time I’m in public and it’s a Gen Z worker, they just stare at you.”
But the term didn’t blow up until mid-2025.
On June 3, 2025, a Twitter user posted:
“I’m so sick of the new style of customer service where people just stare at you when you walk up to the counter.”
The tweet got over 28,000 likes in a month.
By July 2025, the discourse exploded. TikTok was flooded with skits, rants, and defenses. Reddit threads debated whether it was real. Mainstream media covered it. Even professors started talking about it in classrooms.
The Gen Z stare went from niche meme to cultural phenomenon in less than two months.
What Does the Gen Z Stare Look Like?
If you’ve experienced it, you know. But here’s what people describe:
- No greeting. You walk up to the counter. No “Hi.” No “Welcome.” Just silence.
- Dead eyes. They’re looking at you, but it doesn’t feel like they’re seeing you.
- Zero emotion. No smile. No frown. Just a flat, neutral expression.
- Long pauses. You ask a question. They stare. And stare. And finally, maybe, they answer.
- Minimal effort. They give you the bare minimum response, then go back to staring at their phone.
One TikToker compared it to “talking to someone actively buffering.”
Another said, “They look at you like they just saw a ghost.”
Is the Gen Z Stare Real?
Here’s where it gets complicated.
Some people swear it’s real. Millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers have flooded TikTok with stories about getting the stare. They say it happens constantly — at Chipotle, Starbucks, Target, everywhere.
Gen Z pushes back. Many younger workers say the “stare” only happens when customers ask stupid questions or act rude. One Gen Z bartender explained:
“The ‘customer service stare’ is the stare a worker gives somebody for asking something dumb. The ‘Gen Z stare’ is the blank look that workers receive instead of a response to anything.”
In other words: Gen Z says they’re not the ones staring. You are.
Experts say it’s nuanced. Jennifer Grygiel, a social media professor at Syracuse University, told NPR:
“I find Gen Z to be really great at having conversations. If you actually engage them, they will engage you back. Maybe what we’re witnessing is some boredom, especially with who they’re interacting with.”
So is it real? Probably. But it’s not as simple as “Gen Z is rude.”
Why Does the Gen Z Stare Happen?
There are a lot of theories. Here are the big ones:
1. The COVID-19 Pandemic Stole Their Social Skills
Gen Z came of age during lockdowns. They missed critical years of face-to-face socialization.
A University of Alabama professor said the stare became more common on campus after COVID, noting an “increasing amount of silence” when asking questions in class.
According to a Pew Research study, 65% of Gen Z said they had to “relearn” social skills after the pandemic ended.
When you spend your teenage years socializing through screens instead of in person, you miss out on learning how to read body language, make eye contact, and engage in small talk.
2. Social Anxiety
Gen Z reports higher rates of anxiety than any previous generation.
For many, being put on the spot — especially at work — triggers a freeze response. The blank stare isn’t disrespect. It’s the nervous system shutting down.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a trauma expert, describes the freeze response as the body’s way of protecting itself when fight or flight aren’t options.
One Gen Zer on TikTok said: “We all have social anxiety.”
3. Digital Natives in an Analog World
Gen Z grew up texting, not talking. They can edit, delete, and craft perfect responses online. But in person? No delete button. No time to think.
When forced to respond spontaneously, they freeze up.
4. Rejection of “Performative Positivity”
Older generations were taught to smile and be polite, even if they didn’t mean it. Gen Z values authenticity over fake niceness.
They refuse to pretend everything is great when it’s not. The stare is their way of saying, “I’m not going to fake enthusiasm for minimum wage.”
5. They’re Just… Tired
Gen Z faces:
- The highest youth unemployment rate in decades
- Crushing student debt
- A bleak job market
- Climate anxiety
- Political chaos
One Gen Zer said: “That look? It’s exhaustion, not entitlement.”
6. Customers Are Awful
Let’s be real: some customers are terrible. They yell. They’re rude. They ask absurd questions.
One TikToker said: “The stare is a worker’s response to someone asking something stupid, like whether the strawberry-banana smoothie has banana in it.”
The stare is a defense mechanism. A way to protect themselves from nonsense.
The Gen Z Stare in the Workplace: A Real Problem?
For businesses, the Gen Z stare isn’t just a meme. It’s becoming a workplace issue.
What Managers Are Saying
According to surveys:
- 27% of managers say they’d prefer not to hire Gen Z if possible
- 18% of managers have considered quitting because of Gen Z workers
- 50% of managers say Gen Z causes tension among other age groups
Companies are investing more in soft skills training for Gen Z employees because of complaints about communication and customer service.
The Economic Impact
The Gen Z stare affects:
- Customer satisfaction – People don’t want to return to businesses where workers seem disengaged
- Brand loyalty – Bad customer experiences hurt repeat business
- Team morale – Misunderstandings between Gen Z and older coworkers cause friction
- Training costs – Companies spend more time teaching Gen Z how to interact with customers
But here’s the flip side: Gen Z’s preference for authenticity resonates with younger customers, who may actually prefer straightforward, no-frills service over forced smiles.
What Gen Z Says in Their Defense
Gen Z isn’t taking this lying down. Here are their counterarguments:
“We’re Not the Problem — You Are”
Gen Z has pointed out that every generation gets roasted when they enter the workforce.
Boomers were called lazy. Gen X was called cynical. Millennials were called entitled and got mocked for the “millennial pause” (that awkward second before speaking on video).
Now it’s Gen Z’s turn.
“Older Generations Are Awkward Too”
Gen Z has coined terms for other generations’ awkward behaviors:
- “Lead paint stare” – The confused, befuddled look Boomers give when they don’t understand something
- “Blue light stare” – The disengaged, screen-addicted look Gen Alpha gives
“We’re Just Listening”
Some Gen Zers argue that the stare is actually active listening. They’re processing what you said before responding.
Older generations interpret silence as rudeness. Gen Z sees it as thoughtfulness.
How to Handle the Gen Z Stare (For Managers and Customers)
If you’re dealing with the Gen Z stare, here’s what experts recommend:
For Managers:
- Don’t assume disrespect. The stare might be anxiety, not attitude.
- Invest in soft skills training. Teach communication as a skill, not an assumption.
- Check in privately. Ask, “Was anything unclear?” instead of calling them out publicly.
- Skip the small talk. Gen Z values honest conversations over forced pleasantries.
- Create psychological safety. Make it okay for them to ask questions or admit confusion.
For Customers:
- Be patient. They might just need a second to process.
- Be clear. Ask simple, direct questions.
- Don’t take it personally. They’re not trying to be rude.
- Engage authentically. Gen Z responds better to real conversation than scripted small talk.
The Bigger Picture: What the Gen Z Stare Reveals
The Gen Z stare isn’t just about awkward encounters at Chipotle. It’s a symbol of deeper generational divides.
It reveals:
- Different communication styles. What older generations see as basic manners, Gen Z sees as performative.
- The lingering effects of COVID. A generation that missed critical social development years.
- Workplace culture clashes. Gen Z wants authenticity. Older generations want professionalism.
- Economic anxiety. Gen Z is stressed, burned out, and disillusioned.
As one Gen Z TikToker put it:
“Instead of attacking us, maybe we could look inwards and get curious about why we are the way that we are.”
Final Thoughts: Is the Gen Z Stare Here to Stay?
The Gen Z stare might just be a phase. As Gen Z gains more work experience, their social skills will improve.
Or maybe it’s not a phase. Maybe it’s a permanent shift in how a generation communicates — less performative, more authentic, and unapologetically different.
Either way, one thing is clear: the Gen Z stare has started a conversation we all need to have about generational differences, workplace culture, and what “good” communication really means.
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