Does Gen Z have a staring problem? Some Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers seem to think so, as they've coined a new slang term called the "Gen Z Stare" to describe the blank look they supposedly receive from the younger generation, especially from those in customer service settings.

The term has sparked viral discourse on TikTok and Twitter / X, which has peaked this week. Now, many Zoomers are pushing back against the stereotype, while their elders are joining forces to shed light on the alleged phenomenon they've experienced.

The question at the heart of this discussion is, "Is the 'stare' unique to Generation Z, or is it just the nature of customer service jobs?" Regardless, some have argued that the stare extends far outside of the store, reaching every social situation that Gen Z is placed in.

So, what is the meaning of the "Gen Z Stare?" Who coined it, and how are people debating it online? Let's explain.

What Does 'Gen Z Stare' Mean?

The definition of "Gen Z Stare" is a blank, expressionless stare said to be common among members of Gen Z that they use in place of a greeting or small talk.

The term originally highlighted a perceived social phenomenon in Gen Z customer service workers. People of older generations said that they were often met with a blank stare when a Gen Z person was working a cash register.

@thedisneygirlie Mind you, I used to work at Disney, but I still don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a “hey” or a smile. #genzstare ♬ original sound – Ashley

Where Did The Term 'Gen Z Stare' Come From?

The earliest post about the "Gen Z Stare" that we could find is a video from TikToker @meghan.alessi, posted in July of last year. She's seen in her car, telling the viewer, "I swear, every time I'm in public and it's a Gen Z worker, they just stare at you."

Users in the comments, some from Gen Z, tried to rationalize what she was talking about. "I'm Gen Z and the answer is: we are tired," wrote one user.

Another user also called out the amount of "Millennial pauses" that @meghan.alessi did in the video, which earned a like from the TikToker herself.

@meghan.alessi Gen Z and their silent stare is confusing my Millennial brain #genz #millennial ♬ original sound – meghan.alessi

How Is Gen Z Reacting To The 'Gen Z Stare' Allegations?

Gen Z people have been having some honest discussions about the "Gen Z Stare" term this year. For instance, in a viral tweet from June 2025, X user @pbprot wrote, "I'm so sick of the new style of customer service where people just stare at you when you walk up to the counter/service desk."

The tweet elicited some hypothesizing from X user @lauren_wilford, who tried to explain the Gen Z term, claiming, "In general, Gen Z culture doesn't have a norm for greeting/acknowledging people they don't already know." About 24,000 people agreed with her by liking the quote-tweet.

On TikTok, many Zoomers are pushing back against the "Gen Z Stare" stereotype, arguing that serving Millennial, Gen X and Baby Boomer customers is challenging.

Many Gen Z TikTokers are posting skits that play out overly frustrating interactions with older customers. "What y'all sound like before receiving the 'Gen Z Stare,'" was the caption of one viral skit from TikToker @netta.dar.

The imagined customer in her scenario orders an excessively long and specific coffee order and then acts surprised when the Gen Z worker is left dumbfounded.

@netta.dar the gen z stare comes out when there’s nothing nice to say… #genz #genzstare #pov #fyp #skit #parody #stare #cafe #annoyingcustomers #customerservice ♬ original sound – Netta Dar

Over the past week, a lot of skits with the same "the customer is not always right" moral have surfaced on TikTok in response to the "Gen Z Stare" claims. But some Zoomers think that their peers are missing the point of the original criticism.

TikToker @xiandivyne, for example, shared a video in which he laughed at Gen Z's "first reaction" being to say, "Well, actually the Gen Z Stare is something we do because we're smart and you're stupid."

He continued to say that the video skits were missing the point; that receiving a dumb question while working a cash register is a "universal customer service experience" that people of all generations have answered with staring blankly.

"The Gen Z Stare is like the thing when Boomers hear the credit thing beeping and they're just not reacting. Gen Z does that for mandatory small talk," he said. "It's not [about] ridiculous responses to ridiculous questions. It's just responses to initial greetings."

@xiandivyne #fyp #xiandivyne ♬ original sound – Christian Divyne

Still, whether or not the phenomenon is unique to Gen Z is up for debate. With a time machine, I'm sure one could go back and find a Boomer working at a hot dog stand who's awkward about eye contact.

@madylamb i promise i don’t actually react like this but i will gen z stare occasionally. #fyp #relatable #genzstare ♬ Lover, You Should've Come Over – Jeff Buckley

What Are Some More 'Gen Z Stare' Memes?

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7524124573994896695

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7525603539683446071

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7525571266452000030

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7525248946252385591

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For the full history of the Gen Z Stare, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.