What is the 'Gen Z stare'? The viral blank look, explained
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In brief
The "Gen Z stare" is a blank, expressionless silence that some members of Generation Z give instead of a verbal reply, often in customer-service or small-talk situations. Psychologists quoted by CNN and NBC News describe it as a mix of social anxiety, burnout and a rejection of forced cheerfulness, while older generations often read it as rude. Communication experts recommend asking a clarifying question rather than assuming hostility.
Videos showing young cashiers, baristas or students responding to ordinary questions with a fixed, silent expression have been circulating under the label "Gen Z stare" since 2025, and the debate over what the look means resurfaced in national coverage in October 2026.
What the term describes
Merriam-Webster's working definition, cited by CNN, describes the Gen Z stare as a vacant expression that members of Generation Z display in situations where a spoken response would normally be expected. It most commonly shows up in retail, food-service and classroom settings, when someone asks a question and gets a prolonged, neutral look instead of words.
According to Wikipedia's entry on the phenomenon, the term was coined in the summer of 2024, but it became a mainstream media story in July 2025 after researcher Kaiden Jones's academic work described the stare as a form of social pushback against expected conversational scripts, distinct from ordinary deadpan humor or stonewalling. NBC News reported that the hashtag #GenZStare had drawn roughly 8,000 TikTok videos by that point, including one from creator Dametrius "Jet" Latham that reached over 1.4 million views.
Why experts say it happens
There is no single agreed explanation. Several specialists quoted across CNN and NBC News point to overlapping factors rather than one cause.
Pandemic-era isolation: University of Alabama professor Jessica Maddox told NBC News the stare became more noticeable after students returned to campus following COVID-19 protocols, which she linked to reduced face-to-face practice.
Digital-first communication: Communication professor Jess Rauchberg told NBC News that frequent phone use leads some young people to regard the device almost as an extension of their own body, reducing reliance on spoken exchanges.
A skills gap, not defiance: Psychotherapist Robi Ludwig said the stare can reflect a gap in social skills between Gen Z and older generations rather than intentional rudeness.
A protective reflex: Clinical psychologist Kamran Eshtehardi told CNN that for some Gen Z individuals the stare is protective, stemming from feeling disconnected from the norms of older generations.
Processing time: Clinical psychologist Matthew Leahy told CNN the look can simply reflect uncertainty, anxiety, processing or discomfort, rather than contempt, and noted that pandemic-era isolation reduced ordinary face-to-face practice at an important developmental stage.
A real-world example
CNN reported the case of Sabrina Grimaldi, 26, from Phoenix, who was pregnant in a grocery checkout line when an older woman remarked that her feet looked "huge and fat" and that she was going to have a "fat baby." Grimaldi said she responded with a silent, blank stare until the other woman grew visibly uncomfortable.
That's the kind of comment that leaves you just staring at someone, trying to process why they thought that was an appropriate thing to say in the first place.
— Sabrina Grimaldi, quoted by CNN
Grimaldi told CNN that younger people often feel pressure to stay outwardly pleasant even when treated rudely, and that the stare can be a way of pushing back without words. Executive-coaching author Loren Margolis added that many in Gen Z see small talk as insincere and resist what they view as forced, fake cheerfulness.
Not just an American phenomenon
SBS News in South Korea reported similar friction there: an older person recounted a younger acquaintance staying silent instead of answering simple questions, such as when discussing transportation options during travel. Communication specialists cited by SBS linked the behaviour to heavy reliance on smartphones and social media among younger Koreans, along with a cultural shift in which not initiating conversation is increasingly viewed as polite rather than evasive. The outlet reported that the pattern has caused frustration among older generations who find the lack of verbal feedback confusing in everyday exchanges.
How communication experts suggest responding
CNN's reporting cites organizational consultant Kristin Emerson, who frames the suggested approach as seeking clarification rather than assuming hostility. Specific suggestions from the experts interviewed include:
Ask a direct, low-pressure clarifying question instead of assuming the person is being rude, as suggested by Kristin Emerson.
Wait a few seconds before reacting, since a blank look may reflect processing time, uncertainty or discomfort rather than disrespect, according to psychologist Matthew Leahy.
Avoid labeling the behaviour as a generational failure in the moment; Leahy notes it can appear in anyone experiencing anxiety or discomfort, regardless of age.
Recognise context: in service settings the stare may follow an inappropriate or rude comment from the other person, as in Grimaldi's account, rather than occurring at random.
Main theories about the Gen Z stare
Theory
Who proposed it
Source
Reduced in-person practice from pandemic isolation
Jessica Maddox, professor; Matthew Leahy, clinical psychologist
NBC News; CNN
Skills gap between generations, not defiance
Robi Ludwig, psychotherapist
NBC News
Heavy reliance on phones/social media over spoken exchange
Jess Rauchberg, communication professor
NBC News
Protective withdrawal from norms set by older generations
Kamran Eshtehardi, clinical psychologist
CNN
Processing time / anxiety, not defiance
Matthew Leahy, clinical psychologist
CNN
Rejection of forced positivity and small talk
Loren Margolis, executive coach
CNN
Cultural shift viewing silence as polite, tied to digital habits
Unnamed communication specialists
SBS News (South Korea)
Questions
What exactly is the 'Gen Z stare'?
It is a blank, silent facial expression that some members of Generation Z give instead of a spoken reply, typically in customer-service, classroom or small-talk situations, according to Merriam-Webster's definition cited by CNN.
When did the term start trending?
Wikipedia notes the term was coined in summer 2024, but it went mainstream in July 2025 when the #GenZStare hashtag drew thousands of TikTok videos, per NBC News reporting.
Is the stare meant to be rude?
Experts interviewed by CNN and NBC News say it is usually not intentional rudeness; explanations range from social anxiety and processing time to a learned response from heavy phone use, though some recipients still perceive it as dismissive.
Is this only happening in the United States?
No. SBS News in South Korea reported similar friction between generations there, with communication specialists linking it to smartphone reliance and a cultural shift that treats silence as courteous rather than evasive.
How should someone respond if they get the stare?
CNN's reporting, citing consultant Kristin Emerson and psychologist Matthew Leahy, suggests asking a direct clarifying question and pausing before assuming hostility, since the look may reflect uncertainty or discomfort rather than disrespect.
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