An expert has explained what the ‘Gen-Z stare’ is, and people think the generation might be doomed.
There’s no denying that Gen-Z has some… unusual practices.
Be it floodlighting, bedrotting, silent walking, legging legs, or even covering their nose in photographs, it seems their trends almost always need a translator.
But now, experts are talking about the Gen-Z stare, and it turns out, it may be a symptom of something rather sinister.
This blank, unresponsive expression, described as a ‘deer in the headlights’ look, has become the latest flashpoint in generational debates, sparking thousands of comments and heated discussions across platforms.
The Gen Z stare manifests as a prolonged, blank expression that occurs when someone attempts to make conversation with a young person.
Picture this: you ask a retail worker a simple question about store hours, or try to make small talk with your daughter’s golf instructor about payment.
Instead of a verbal response, you’re met with an empty stare that stretches uncomfortably long, leaving you wondering if you’ve somehow offended or confused them.
TikTok user Riley Despot brought widespread attention to the phenomenon when she reenacted her experience with her daughter’s golf instructor, describing how enthusiastic attempts at conversation were met with ‘long pauses, a deadpan face and increasingly vague answers.’ Her video resonated with thousands who recognized similar encounters in their own lives.
The initial reaction to the Gen Z stare was predictably judgmental. Many older generations interpreted it as simple rudeness – a lack of basic social skills and common courtesy.
However, experts and Gen Z voices themselves are pushing back against this surface-level interpretation.
@rileysomsendespot I received the Gen Z Stare the other day. I walked away from the interaction so confused. I am against slamming a generation as a whole, because I know this isn’t all of Gen Z. The interaction was just weird, you know? #genzstare #fyp #millennial ♬ original sound – Riley Despot💕✨️ |SAHM|
Tam Kaur, a 24-year-old Gen Z self-help author, argues that reducing the stare to mere rudeness is ‘shortsighted’ when it’s clearly a ‘symptom of something deeper.’
She explains to Metro: “We’re the first generation to grow up with our faces constantly on display in selfies, stories, video calls, with everything being scrutinized online. That creates a heightened sense of self-consciousness and a fear of being judged, even in the smallest interactions.”
Bex Spiller, a workplace wellbeing consultant, takes this analysis further, suggesting the stare could be ‘a symptom of burnout and cognitive overload.’
She points out that Gen Z has ‘entered the workforce during a time of incredible pressure with rising living costs, unstable job markets and constant digital noise.’
The pandemic’s impact on Gen Z’s social development also cannot be overstated.
This generation, aged 8-23 when COVID-19 hit, had their crucial formative years interrupted by lockdowns, online learning, and social isolation.
A 2024 Preply survey found that 51% of Gen Z felt their social skills had declined due to limited in-person interactions during the pandemic, significantly higher than other generations.
As one expert noted, Gen Z experienced important developmental years during quarantine, missing out on the natural social learning that comes from face-to-face interactions during adolescence and young adulthood.
The discussion took on new dimensions when it reached Reddit‘s r/AutismInWomen community, where users provided nuanced insights into the phenomenon. The conversation revealed two distinct categories of the Gen Z stare.
Some users described encountering young people who deliberately stare until you leave, having decided you’re ‘not worth their time.’ As one commenter noted: “Instead of just responding and moving on, they’ll stare until you leave.”
Others recognized a more vulnerable version – young people who appear genuinely nervous and embarrassed, staring ‘for a length of time even I’m uncomfortable with.’
One user compared it to: “What I used to do at the doctors, waiting for my mom to jump in and respond for me, but there isn’t anyone to respond for them.”
Reddit users were quick to point out that the stare isn’t exclusive to Gen Z.
One commenter observed: “My menopausal coworker does it to me any time I ask a question she thinks I should already know the answer to… I actually think that’s kind of the thing; it’s being called ‘gen z stare’ but I feel like it’s something way more than just gen z does.”
@feetheyapper The gen z stare, what do you think about this topic? #genz #genzvsmillenial #sociology #socialmedia #unpopularopinion #community #fyp ♬ original sound – Feeee🧚🧚🧚
Several Reddit users noted parallels between the Gen Z stare and neurodivergent experiences.
Many described their own history of ‘freezing up’ in social situations, particularly when addressed by strangers.
One user shared: “Social anxiety ain’t no joke to me. I’ve had so many years of social trauma built up into my brain… My social anxiety is my best attempt at masking.”
However, the community was careful to distinguish between anxiety-driven responses and what they perceived as deliberately dismissive behavior.
As one commenter put it: “There’s a difference between the socially awkward pause and the deliberate cold shoulder.”
Experts suggest that rather than dismissing the Gen Z stare as simple rudeness, we should view it as a symptom of broader societal challenges.
As Bex Spiller noted: “We’ve spent decades rewarding people for being constantly ‘on,’ but that’s just not sustainable and maybe the ‘stare’ is telling us that.”
