Overview

• The Gen Z stare is characterized by a blank, unbothered expression that has gone viral on TikTok and other platforms during in-person interactions
• Communication researchers from Seton Hall University and the University of Alabama attribute the trend to long-term effects of heavy social media use and reduced face-to-face contact during COVID-19
• Mental-health counselor Shaheen Alarakhia calls it a “lost in translation moment,” noting it reflects young people’s consideration for others’ time through a cut-to-the-chase approach
• Gen Z teens interviewed by SheKnows describe the stare as a pragmatic tactic to avoid drama or cope with social awkwardness rather than an act of rudeness
• Social observers say the phenomenon underscores a widening communication gap, with older generations often misinterpreting the expression as disengagement