Gen Z, vacant stare
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A new generational quirk is taking social media by storm as videos recreating the infamous "Gen Z stare" go viral. It is characterized by a blank, expressionless look in response to questions and has sparked both humor and heated debate across generations.
Karli Mayer, a 25-year-old dental hygiene student in Denver, Colorado, said she will unleash her “Gen Z stare” when something weird, unexpected, or a little “cringe” happens, or when she cannot hear exactly what was said.
Another thing that has become more and more obvious about Gen Z is their desire to hold everyone accountable for virtually everything. For example, when an influencer shares an opinion that they don’t agree with, they expect an apology. One woman thinks this behavior is no longer sustainable.
It's because of instances like this that Shea, who describes herself as solidly left-wing, draws a hard line when it comes to dating and politics: If someone's on the far-right, she's not interested. If someone's moderate or center-right − in the vein of John McCain or Mitt Romney, she says − she might give them a chance.
Those days feel worlds away and yet Y2K has made a resounding comeback among younger generations. Whether it's fashion, movies, TV or music, many people from Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) are returning to that era and making it au courant once again.
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Cultural habits shift from generation to generation, and a notable Gen-Z social trait may actually be our fault.