TikTok is presently engaged in a discussion about the infamous Gen Z stare.

You might be curious about: 1) What does the Gen Z stare entail? 2) Why is TikTok having this discussion? 3) Who invests time in this debate? Let’s investigate these points.

To start, the central question.

What does the Gen Z stare mean?

The interpretation differs, but it typically denotes a vacant, middle-distance look often exhibited by Gen Z people. Gen Z comprises those born from 1997 to 2012. From an outsider’s perspective, it appears as if a young individual is gazing into the void while you’re attempting to have a conversation with them.

Now, let’s dive into the discussion.

What is the Gen Z stare trend on TikTok and what are people disputing about it?

The contention isn’t about whether the Gen Z stare exists, but how and why it is utilized. No generation is uniform, and perspectives or actions aren’t uniformly held. Human beings are intricate and can possess multiple truths and misconceptions at once.

Generally, Gen Z appears to believe that boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials—particularly those millennials deemed cringe—both trigger the Gen Z stare and misinterpret it. In this context, a young person in a customer service position employs the stare in reaction to an older patron’s irritating conduct. The Gen Z individual stares in disbelief or irritation. This is the explanation found on Know Your Meme. A TikTok sketch demonstrates this with a boomer failing to grasp when to take their credit card out of a payment terminal.

Another instance showcases someone not grasping a fundamental fact, such as a class being completely booked, resulting in the stare.

The discourse ensues because some contend that this definition is erroneous. Individuals from all age groups in customer service have employed the stare when encountering difficult clients. Instead, the argument posits that the Gen Z stare isn’t linked to customer service roles but reflects a reluctance or incapacity to engage in small talk or basic interactions. This interpretation involves a young person being approached with a simple inquiry or a cordial “hello” and staring forward instead of replying. Millennials and others in service positions have reported experiencing the stare from Gen Z patrons. A TikTok user describes this scenario as a service worker encountering the stare when asking customers about their seating preferences in a dining establishment.

Another sketch tackles a comparable situation.

The dispute arises from zoomers resisting the notion that they might exhibit an odd habit. On the flip side, millennials contend that the generation that ridicules millennial actions should recognize their own moments of cringe.

A TikTok entry humorously portrays Gen Z becoming defensive, asserting they’re conveying, “we’re intelligent and you’re not.”

One zoomer elaborates on encountering the stare in a workplace setting.

To be fair to zoomers, there have been recent posts and a New York Post article expressing grievances about the Gen Z “gaze” from service personnel, which pertains to the stare discussion but has transformed.

So… why is this relevant?

This trend or discussion has gained popularity partially because it gently mocks Gen Z. Zoomers frequently roast other generations, particularly millennials, whom they perceive as cringe. Compilation videos of millennial cringe are a genre of content, and as a millennial, I concede there’s some validity to it. However, some zoomers resent being ridiculed for their behavior, leading to the backlash against the Gen Z stare and increased online squabbles.

A Bluesky post comments on Gen Z’s response to being called out for the stare.

Another Bluesky entry finds amusement in the Gen Z stare chatter on TikTok.

The Gen Z stare may hold truth. Some indicate that engaging in small talk is daunting for a generation raised during COVID isolation. Gen Z has criticized millennials for the Millennial Pause—the tendency to hesitate before speaking while recording—so perhaps zoomers face a comparable challenge, only in real-life interactions rather than through their devices.

Ultimately, this trend or argument serves as a platform for zoomers to be defensive and (mostly) for millennials to jest or lightly critique Gen Z. It appears to be a lighthearted discussion, with no one genuinely upset, but it’s gaining traction.

As a millennial, I’d prefer to find common ground with zoomers: at least we’re not boomers.