The Gen Z stare is a product of the internet and how kids communicate, not just rudeness | Lynton Grace

Is the Gen Z stare rudeness? Or is there something deeper? I asked my 17-year-old son, and I think you might be surprised, writes Lynton Grace.

• The Gen Z act dividing the internet

When the ‘Gen Z’ stare was raised in the newsroom conference in the past day or two, I knew exactly what it was.

I get it from my beloved late-teens son every day. Sometimes, more often.

But I’m not mad about it. This is an opportunity - not a problem.

Basically, Gen Zs - those aged about 13 to 28, or so, are answering questions or responding to statements with … well, nothing.

And this is automatically seen as straight-out rudeness. I’m here to tell you, it’s not (always).

It’s just a blank stare, and first you wonder ‘what did I do wrong?’

Then you ask yourself, ‘what’s happening behind those eyes that used to be inside the cutest face you ever saw’?

TikTok is divided over the meaning behind the ‘Gen Z stare’. Picture: TikTok

So I asked him - here’s what he said (translated a little bit).

“It’s not rudeness. We have spent so much time socialising online we’re not used to using facial expressions in public.

“We’re thinking about a response but because of communicating on screens - when we don’t need to show an expression - we automatically do that too in public.

“It’s not trying to be rude. But it can come across as rudeness.”

One other thing he said fascinated me:

“Also, online, we have ti

me to think about a response. It’s different in public when it’s meant to be automatic.

Or, as my talented Gen Z fellow journo Leah Smith put it - in absolutely perfect, age-appropriate vernacular - “almost like a buffering response”.

The truth is, the internet created two very different types of people alive today.

Anyone one who can recall it starting is almost entirely separate to those who grew up with it as an all-encompassing feature of their lives. This is one of the effects of that.

The streaming generation is now having kids of their own.

So, is this evolution in process?

Younger generations are accustomed to using written words and emojis as the basis of communication.

They just don’t use facial expressions as much. As they enter the workforce, all of us oldies are exposed to the public reality of a youth spent communicating online.

But to the rudeness side - there’s another aspect here. The other generation gap, the Gen Z internal discussion that’s something like a, ‘what are they talking about’, or the ‘why is that important’.

Again, I don’t see that as (always) borne out of a lack of manners - it’s two very different generations trying to understand each other.

Keep in mind, that internet changed everything.

As Ben Brennan, another of my skilled colleagues said, and he’s closer to my age: “Here’s the flip side - Boomers, Gen X and especially Millenials speak without thinking too much.”

Boom.

Originally published as The Gen Z stare is a product of the internet and how kids communicate, not just rudeness | Lynton Grace