A new trend on TikTok, called the “Gen Z stare,” has been making waves online, and netizens are curious about what it is. In recent times, the video sharing platform has served as the birthplace for all sorts of unique and weird trends. Moreover, netizens have also launched trends related to famous moments in films they watch.
So, what’s the meaning of the ‘Gen Z Stare’ trend, and why is it causing a lot of buzz online? Here’s everything you need to know.
Here is everything about the ‘Gen Z Stare’ trend on TikTok
The ‘Gen Z Stare’ trend originates from a blank/zoned out facial expression. It is seen in Gen Z people — those born between 1997 and 2012. This facial expression is commonly seen in youth when people from older generations, such as Millennials, ask them basic questions or try interacting with them.
Here is a video perfectly encapsulating what a ‘Gen Z stare’ is. Shared by Reddit user u/InGeekiTrust, it depicts a user portraying a customer from an older generation. The person also plays various Gen Z workplace staff. In the clip, the customer asks the staff basic questions. Unfortunately, the former gets a deep stare and a zoned-out expression from the latter.
Moreover, the video shows the user switching roles to play a non-Gen Z staff member. They then ask a Gen Z customer what they would like to order or if they need help with anything. However, the customer responds with a zoned-out expression.
Tam Kaur, a 24-year-old author, shared in a Metro interview that the ‘Gen Z stare’ is a “symptom of something deeper.” She elaborated on her comment, noting that the younger generation was “the first” to grow up having “everything” about them “being scrutinised online.”
“That creates a heightened sense of self-consciousness and a fear of being judged, even in the smallest interactions,” Kaur added. Further, she explained how previous generations, unlike Gen Z, did not “have to think” about their appearance or if they “sounded awkward” greeting people.
Moreover, Bex Spiller, a workplace consultant, offered their perspective on the “Gen Z stare.” She stressed that some Gen Z youngsters are unable to physically or mentally check in. Spiller believed that the stare is a “symptom of burnout and cognitive overload.” Additionally, she called a “nervous system freeze” in response to constant pressure and competition.
Regardless of the meaning behind it, the ‘Gen Z stare’ trend has evidently taken over TikTok.
Originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad on ComingSoon.net.
