What Is the Gen Z Stare? Understanding Gen Z Communication Habits
Gen Z behaviors have been a hot topic for a while now, especially for older generations comparing their own childhood to today’s. But as this generation grows, research into their habits is revealing things that can’t be brushed off with a simple “back in my day” lecture.
One of these habits is the “Gen Z stare.” It’s a trend that’s become a signature look online, and one that could be telling us more about Gen Z’s mental health than we might think.
To help you better understand the Gen Z stare, this article covers:
- What the Gen Z stare is
- Why the Gen Z stare happens
- How the Gen Z stare can affect day-to-day life
- Risks of the Gen Z stare for teens
- Gen Z stare self-check questions
- How parents can help with the Gen Z stare
- Where to find professional teen mental health treatment
What Is the Gen Z Stare Trend?
The Gen Z stare is a social pose where the person gives a camera or another person a completely flat, unreadable look. If you were to view a picture or video, or photo of a Gen Z’er, you might see characteristics like:
- A still head
- Direct and steady eye contact
- Lips relaxed
- No smile
- No hint of emotion
In this facial expression, there’s no obvious performance for the camera, and it’s almost as if the person has been caught mid-thought.
In comparison, if you were to open a photo album of an older generation, you’d almost be guaranteed to see friendly-faced snaps. Or you might see multiple faces looking like they were having the time of their lives. In other words, these pictures are the polar opposite of the Gen Z stare.
What makes the Gen Z stare interesting is that you can’t always tell if it’s meant to be taken seriously or as a bit of a joke. For some, it might be a genuine reflection of how they’re feeling in the moment. For others, it might be a way of standing out by not looking like they’re trying to stand out.
This ambiguity is part of why the Gen Z stare is a trend very much in the spotlight at the moment.
Why Does the Gen Z Stare Happen?
To get a feel for where the Gen Z stare might be coming from, it’s worth remembering how self-expression often mirrors what’s happening in the world.
A good starting point for this trail of thinking is the “Punk” movement in the UK during the mid-70s. High unemployment and a struggling economy left many young people feeling disconnected from the polite, well-mannered British image that had come before. Their music was loud and chaotic. Their fashion was deliberately provocative. In fact, their whole vibe was about standing apart from what felt outdated.
The Gen Z stare isn’t on the same cultural scale as Punk, but it carries a similar undercurrent. It reflects attitudes shaped by the environment Gen Z has grown up in. Plus, even though research on the stare itself is thin, there are plenty of studies we can draw from to understand Gen Z communication habits.
The following are a few potential reasons behind this communication habit.
It Could Be a Way to Keep Things Private
Studies suggest that keeping a neutral face in photos or videos can be a form of emotional self-protection.1 When you don’t give away too much, there’s less for people to judge…or screenshot just at the right frame where you look a little silly. In a time when a single image can spread online in seconds, staying calm and unreadable can feel safer than smiling or showing a strong emotion.
Think about when you last commented “LOL crying laughter emoji face” on an amusing online video, but in reality, your face was still neutral. This may be a sign of a Gen Z stare.
Desensitization From a Media-Rich World
Gen Z has grown up with the internet offering access to almost anything you can imagine…and plenty you probably wish you couldn’t. For instance, pornography has been only a click away for as long as they’ve been online. Daring pranks have also been going viral since this generation were children. Fights, deaths, unfiltered violence, even GoPro footage from active war zones – it’s all there, and it’s all been watched.
When you’ve been exposed to this level of content from a young age, it can take a lot to shock you. The hand-over-mouth moments become few and far between, and the Gen Z stare could be a desensitization issue.2
Moving Away From the “Always Happy” Image
Research shows a shift away from the polished, upbeat look that dominated earlier social media trends.3 The Gen Z stare fits into this shift perfectly, like a quiet way to push back against the pressure to look like you’re always having the best time.
For some Gen Z’ers, the stare is about being authentic, and for others, it’s a perfect opportunity to show that not every post needs a big smile to have meaning.
Can the Gen Z Stare Bleed Into Day-to-Day Life?
The short answer is yes, most likely. What starts as an online trend could very much shape how someone carries themselves offline. The Gen Z stare might feel like harmless fun in a TikTok clip, but habits formed in front of the camera can sometimes stick around in real-world situations.
While there aren’t yet specific studies looking at the consequences of the stare itself, research into similar behaviors could give us clues about the risks it could bring.
Teen Isolation, Social Anxiety, and Social Media
If a teen has ever been caught off guard in a photo or video and then bullied because of how they looked in it, it’s not hard to see why they might default to the Gen Z stare. In a world where social media is always watching, you never really know when someone’s snapping a picture or recording a clip. A neutral, unreadable face feels safer than showing an emotion that could be mocked later.
But this kind of self-protection can have a knock-on effect. Some teens might decide it’s easier to avoid people altogether, reducing the risk of being caught in a bad moment. Over time, this withdrawal could lead to isolation.
Studies show social media is not only a predictor of isolation in teens,4 but also a factor in developing social anxiety.5 This may be especially the case when online interactions start to replace face-to-face ones.
For a teen already worried about how they’re perceived, the online world can amplify these fears and make real-life connections feel even more daunting.
Real-World Consequences
Online, a blank look can be funny or ironic. Offline, it can send a completely different message. Imagine sitting in a job interview. The interviewer asks, “What makes you the perfect fit for this role?” and you respond with an unblinking Gen Z stare. On TikTok, it’s comedy gold. In the real world, you risk coming across as rude or uninterested.
Trends evolve and fade, but the habits they leave behind can linger. This is why it’s worth thinking about how something like the Gen Z stare plays out not just in a 15-second video, but in moments that matter in everyday life.
How Do I Know if My Gen Z Stare Is More Than Just a Trend?
We get it, a trend is a trend. If you like the Gen Z stare, you might be using it in your photos or videos without giving it much thought. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying it for what it is.
However, when it comes to mental health, it’s always worth taking a moment to check in with yourself. Could your Gen Z stare be saying something a little deeper about what’s going on in your life?
To figure out if the Gen Z stare is masking something serious, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you find yourself avoiding smiling or showing emotion in real life as well as online?
- Do you feel anxious or uncomfortable making eye contact with people you don’t know very well?
- Have you been spending less time with friends or avoiding social plans recently?
- Do you worry a lot about being judged for how you look or act in social situations?
- Have you caught yourself using the stare as a way to hide how you’re really feeling?
- Do you often feel more comfortable interacting online than face-to-face?
These aren’t questions that can diagnose you with anything, but they can be food for thought. If you’ve answered yes to one or more, it might be a sign that something else is going on beneath the surface. If this is the case, finding a helping hand to guide you could make a real difference.
My Son or Daughter Is Using the Gen Z Stare a Lot – What Can I Do?
Seeing your child pull the Gen Z stare in photos or videos isn’t automatically a red flag. Trends come and go, and most of the time, they’re just part of how teens express themselves. So before jumping to conclusions about their mental health, it’s worth taking the time to check in with them.
Understanding where they’re at in life, and how they’re feeling in their own head, can tell you far more than the stare alone.
Here are a few ways to open the door to better awareness with some parenting tips for managing digital spaces:
Ask What They Like About the Stare
Sometimes the best place to start is simply asking about it. If you bring it up in a relaxed, non-judgmental way, your teen is more likely to share their real thoughts. They might tell you it’s just a trend they’re having fun with, or they may open up about feeling more comfortable online when they use it.
The way they respond can help you see whether it’s purely a style choice or a way of putting up a barrier.
Notice How They Interact Offline
As you spend time together, pay attention to their expressions and energy in everyday situations. If the same neutral look appears when they’re around friends, family, or even just at home, it could be a sign that something more is going on.
Look for Changes in Routine
Shifts in routine can sometimes say more than words. If they’ve stepped back from hobbies or social events they once enjoyed, this could point to a change in how they’re feeling. Ask how they’re doing socially, and if they mention feeling awkward or uncomfortable, you could follow up by questioning whether they feel more themselves online than in person.
Share a Little About Yourself
Opening up about your own teenage years can be a powerful way to encourage your teen to talk. Even if your experiences were different, sharing a moment when you felt out of place or unsure shows them you understand that growing up isn’t always smooth.
If it’s becoming clear that your child is struggling mentally, or even if you just have a nagging feeling that something is off, there’s never any harm in contacting professionals. They can confirm if there’s a deeper concern or simply ease the voice in the back of your mind.
In the next section, we’ll look at what treatment options are available and who these professionals actually are.
Mission Prep: Mental Health Treatment for the Gen Z Stare
If the Gen Z stare has gone from a fun trend to something that reflects your teen’s struggle with social anxiety or isolation, help is available. At Mission Prep, we understand how online behaviors can spill into real life, shaping how young people see themselves and interact with the world.
One of the tools we use is DBT for social anxiety in adolescents. DBT, or dialectical behavior therapy, teaches practical skills for improving communication and building confidence in social situations. For a teen who uses the Gen Z stare as a kind of shield, DBT can help them feel more comfortable expressing themselves and connecting with others face-to-face.
Every young person is different, which is why we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether it’s a supportive residential program, focused outpatient sessions, or a summer reset, we create a space where teens feel supported and ready to grow.
It’s easy to see a trend like the Gen Z stare as harmless, but if it’s linked to ongoing anxiety or withdrawal, it’s worth addressing. Contact our team to learn how we can guide your family toward clarity, connection, and lasting change
References
- Lee, E., Kang, J. I., Park, I. H., Kim, J.-J., & An, S. K. (2008). Is a neutral face really evaluated as being emotionally neutral? Psychiatry Research, 157(1-3), 77–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2007.02.005
- Yousef, A. M. F., Alshamy, A., Tlili, A., & Metwally, A. H. S. (2025). Demystifying the New Dilemma of Brain Rot in the Digital Era: A Review. Brain Sciences, 15(3), 283. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15030283
- Tiggemann, M., & Zaccardo, M. (2018). “Strong Is the New skinny”: a Content Analysis of #fitspiration Images on Instagram. Journal of Health Psychology, 23(8), 1003–1011. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316639436
- Twenge, J. M., Haidt, J., Blake, A. B., McAllister, C., Lemon, H., & Le Roy, A. (2021). Worldwide increases in adolescent loneliness. Journal of Adolescence, 93(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.06.006
- Prasad, S., Souabni, S. A., Anugwom, G., Aneni, K., Anand, A., Urhi, A., Obi-Azuike, C., Gibson, T., Khan, A., & Oladunjoye, A. F. (2023). Anxiety and depression amongst youth as adverse effects of using social media : A Review. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 85(8), 3974–3981. https://doi.org/10.1097/ms9.0000000000001066
