Millennials and Gen X have taken to TikTok to call out the "Gen Z stare," when a Gen Z worker seems to be rudely unresponsive to a question or ask. However, Gen Z users have a different take and are defending the mannerism.

Now, to be fair to zoomers, a few weeks ago there were a few posts — and a write-up from the New York Post, naturally — complaining about the Gen Z "gaze" from service workers. That's seemingly related to the "stare" debate now, but it's certainly evolved.

Millennials and Gen Z are having it out on TikTok over this facial expression. Here’s everything to know about what the 'Gen Z stare' is and why everyone is up in arms about it.

But the “stare” dogpile is also a reflection of the social skills we value and how we learned to value them; concerns that go beyond eye contact and active listening. In examining our hangups and the backlash, it becomes clear that the Gen Z stare is actually as much about Zoomers as it is the people who are frustrated by them.

Millennials may find the so-called ‘Gen Z stare’ irritating, but others say it’s justified. Debate over the so-called Gen Z stare is the latest conversation on TikTok to capture people’s attention. But like so many viral social media moments,

Banarsë compared it to the "Millennial Pause," a brief moment of silence before speaking in a video, adding that today's social quirks go viral more quickly. Banarsë added that the stare is part of Gen Z's move toward authenticity and boundary-setting—where emotional labor isn't automatically performed to meet outdated norms.

Gen Z is increasingly choosing to take on multiple jobs. Some creators are going a step further and posting about their side hustles on TikTok.

This particular TikTok trend is quickly becoming a flashpoint in debates about workplace culture, generational divides, and the future of soft skills. While it may seem like a fleeting meme, the Gen Z stare is emblematic of deeper economic and social shifts as the youngest working generation reshapes the labor market.

Nav Karmacharya, a 23-year-old cybersecurity analyst, records himself daily, posting day-in-the-life TikToks as a 9-to-5 remote worker to his primarily Gen Z audience seeking career advice.