Right, here’s what’s actually going on with the ‘Gen Z stare’

Apparently, Gen Z don’t know how to say hi anymore.

We’re snowflakes, too anxious, too woke, chronically online, basically unhirable, and now, even our faces are a problem. At this point, the list of ways our generation is doomed is honestly kind of impressive.

According to all the millennials out there, those born between 1997 and 2012 are most likely to give you their best “Gen Z stare” when they’re working in customer service roles like waiting tables at a restaurant, or taking orders at a till.

So, what actually is the Gen Z stare?

The Gen Z stare is going viral on TikTok right now, and it basically refers to the blank look young people are supposedly giving in response to simple questions, or when being asked to complete basic tasks.

The debate is pretty fiery, with some Gen Zers defending themselves, others saying it doesn’t exist at all, and an army of millennials smiling pleasantly as they accuse twentysomethings of being so socially inept they can barely function.

@thetab_

you will never make the gen z stare what the millenial pause is i’m sorry #student #university #cringe

♬ original sound – The Tab

Videos of people imitating the Gen Z stare have racked up millions of views on TikTok. On one post someone asked in the comments: “Why are they so SCARED”. And with 62.1k likes for that single question, it seems a lot of people also want to know the answer.

Others remarked: “I’ve never experienced the Gen Z stare but I have experienced Gen Z being audibly confused at every question I ask”, whilst another user writes: “Right and they have the audacity to make fun of the millennial pause” – and honestly, yes we do.

What’s behind the stare?

For London bartender Jordan MacIsaac, her Gen Z stare is a defence mechanism against irritating drunk customers.

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The 24-year-old told HuffPost: “All you can really do is stare at them when you know you can’t say anything that’ll lose you your job.”

“I’m a young female bartender. There’s a lot of people hitting on me and I try not to engage with that at all,” she added.

When the roles are reversed though, Jordan says she goes out of her way to be warm and talkative as a customer.

Young women in particular are expected to be pleasant, and the Gen Z stare could be the result of a generation who refuse to grin with gritted teeth every time a creepy man winks at them to smile more.

As a digitally native group (ahem, phone addicted), there may also be something to the argument that we struggle a little more with small talk.

It’s worth noting that many Gen Zers went into lockdown during crucial developmental milestones, too: Starting university at the height of the pandemic, or beginning employment wearing masks.

Alongside this, there’s an over-qualification crisis for young people right now. You’ve got a workforce who’ve graduated with Master’s degrees, wallowing in tens of thousands of pounds of debt, and they’re often the ones standing behind the bar you’re ordering your cocktail from.

Maybe we’re a bit less comfortable with performative social interactions. Maybe we just want to grab our sandwich from the counter and get on with our day. Maybe we’re disillusioned with a job market that sees our degrees as virtually useless. Or maybe we’re nine hours into a 12 hour shift with no break.

So no, Karen, we’d prefer not to crack a smile over your caramel oat latte order.

Featured image via @platos.closet.wspfld/@trevonwoodburyy/@dantejamees on TikTok