“Gen Z Stare” on Social Media: What’s Behind Young People’s Staring?

Berlin. If any generation has been in the headlines particularly often recently, it's probably Gen Z—roughly those born between 1995 and 2010. For example, because they supposedly lack a good work ethic. Or because they're lazy. Now the generation is once again making viral headlines. This time, it's about the so-called "Gen Z Stare." But what is that?

What's meant is a seemingly rigid, expressionless stare that appears somewhat annoyed, almost zombie-like. This is something that's often attributed to the younger generation these days. Prominent examples include actresses Jenna Ortega (22, "Wednesday") and Lily-Rose Depp (26, "Nosferatu"), who, in many red carpet poses, recall this "I don't care" expression.

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Apparently, as English-speaking users in particular have noticed on social media, the so-called “Gen Z look” typically appears in customer contact (with older people) – for example when serving in a café or restaurant.

When someone orders a coffee, the younger generation at the counter responds with a blank stare. That's the accusation. Of course, that stirs up emotions.

Many videos circulate on TikTok and Instagram in which Gen Z themselves take a stand on this issue or spread the sentiment satirically. Some clips claim that many customers are so unfriendly or have such absurd orders that one is left with nothing but a blank stare.

In one video, a user humorously pretends to be serving an unfriendly customer. The customer harshly demands a latte with cow's milk, despite being lactose intolerant. The young waitress's reaction: a stare of disbelief. Other users, in turn, accuse the younger customers of lacking social skills (due to their smartphones) or simply lacking interest. Even the New York Times picked up on the topic.

Is there any truth to the "Gen Z stare"? And what could be behind it? First of all: According to experts, it hasn't been scientifically proven (yet).

Social scientist Gabriele Rohmann, co-director of the Archive of Youth Cultures in Berlin, considers the rigid expression a "phenomenon fraught with clichés and prejudice." Certainly, there are young people who behave this way or who imitate the behavior on social media.

"But I wouldn't attribute it to an entire generation in general," says Rohmann. "We work with young people from this age range every day, and we repeatedly observe a great deal of heterogeneity when we visit a school class or a youth center."

Media ethicist Claudia Paganini of the University of Innsbruck also says she is very cautious about the question of whether the fixed gaze actually exists, because there is no relevant data available. However, Paganini, who researches phenomena of media use, considers a possible underlying assumption behind the gaze to be plausible.

The younger generation has learned to pay attention to their own presentation in much broader contexts – including, for example, customer contact in a café. "I think it's plausible that the assessment of which places are public and therefore relevant to my behavior has really changed," she explains.

"Young people expect that their facial expressions might be relevant not only when they meet new people at a party, but potentially anywhere cameras might be pointed at them." They grew up in an era where they can be digitally documented all the time.

Nowadays, any facial expression can be photographed in public, uploaded to social media, and then go viral, says the expert. "That's why a certain caution or reserve—a kind of poker face in facial expressions—is entirely understandable, I think."

The professor, on the other hand, considers the theory that people who grow up heavily exposed to smartphones and new media display fewer facial expressions in conversation because they need them less in chat to be very bold. "This is a very evolutionary idea, that skills that are no longer relevant atrophy. The main problem I see here is the very short time frame for such a change."

There are gaps of about 15 years between generations. Paganini believes it's unlikely that facial expressions change so quickly and significantly between, say, Gen Z and the Baby Boomers (roughly those born between 1965 and 1979). She also doesn't believe that the look is an expression of coldness.

Rüdiger Maas, generational researcher and author of the book "Generational Conflict," is also critical of the hasty classification as a generation-specific phenomenon. "We need to be careful. I would warn against immediately perceiving every anomaly someone discovers on social media as a Gen Z phenomenon."

And besides, if you're confronted with a stare, it can be quickly resolved – even from older generations. Social scientist Rohmann says: "Usually, a friendly conversation is enough. That can achieve quite a lot."

RND/dpa