The “Gen Z Stare”: Are We Raising a Generation of Blank-Faced Robots?

Oh, the “Gen Z stare”.

You know the one—those unblinking, blank emotionless stare the look that says, “I see you, but I’m not sure I care.” As a body language expert (and a mother of two Gen Z-ers and one Alpha) I’m both fascinated and mildly terrified by this phenomenon. Is it just a vibe, or are we witnessing the slow death of emotional intelligence?

What’s With the Stare, Gen Z?

Picture this: you’re chatting with a teenager, and they hit you with “the stare”. No smile, no nod, just a blank gaze. It’s not just you—people are calling it offensive, creepy, even alien. So, what’s going on? Why does Gen Z look like they’re auditioning for a sci-fi flick?

Blame the digital world they grew up in. These kids were raised on screens, where communication is lean, mean, and emoji-driven. A heart-eyes emoji doesn’t need a smile IRL. The “Gen Z stare”? It’s the human equivalent of a text message: neutral, efficient, and zero fluff. Eye contact? That’s optional when you’re DMing your feelings.

Then came the pandemic, when face-to-face chats were replaced by Zoom calls and masked-up grocery runs. Masks hid smiles, frowns, and everything in between, leaving us to decode emotions through... well, eyes. And let’s be real, eyes alone can’t carry the whole conversation. Add in Botox (because apparently everyone’s face needs to be frozen like a TikTok filter) and cultural garments like burqas, and you’ve got a recipe for a generation that’s forgotten how to read a face—or show one.

Oh, and don’t forget the social anxiety angle. Gen Z lives in a world where every move can be screenshot, posted, or cancelled. That stare”? It’s a freeze response, like a deer in headlights hoping nobody catches them “doing anything wrong.” It’s not rudeness—it’s survival. Eye contact is risky when your every blink could end up on someone’s story.

Why This Matters (Spoiler: It’s Not Just About Creepy Looks)

Here’s where it gets serious. Emotional intelligence—aka the ability to read people, feel empathy, and not act like a robot—is learned through face-to-face interactions. When kids grow up with masks, screens, and Botox-smooth faces, they miss out on the subtle cues that teach them how to connect. A raised eyebrow, a shy smile, a nervous lip twitch—these are the ABCs of human connection. Without them, we’re raising a generation that might struggle to read a room or, worse, care about it.

The “Gen Z stare” isn’t just a quirky trend; it’s a warning sign. If kids can’t decode body language or express emotions, we’re looking at a future of awkward silences, misread texts, and relationships that crash faster than a bad Wi-Fi connection. And let’s not pretend adults are off the hook—our obsession with “perfect” faces and digital filters isn’t exactly setting a great example.

So, What Do We Do About It?

·  Get Face-to-Face (Yes, Like, In Person). Ditch the screens for a bit. Encourage real-life hangouts—coffee shops, park walks, or even just family dinners without phones.

· Teach Emotions Like It’s Vocabulary Class. Kids need words for feelings, not just emojis.    Play “name that emotion” games or talk about how anger feels versus sadness.

· Be a Body Language Role Model. Adults, this one’s on us. Use big gestures, expressive faces, and varied tones when you talk. Show kids that emotions aren’t just for TikTok skits.

· Schools, step up. Role-playing, group discussions, or even improv classes can teach kids how to navigate social situations without freezing. 

Summa summarum:

The “Gen Z stare” is more than a meme-worthy quirk. It’s a wake-up call. Between masks, Botox, burqas, and endless scrolling, we’ve created a world where faces are optional and emotions are hard to read. If we want kids to grow up with the skills to connect, empathize, and maybe even crack a smile, we’ve got to show them how. So, let’s put down the phones, peel off the filters, and give Gen Z a reason to ditch the stare. Because emotional intelligence isn’t just nice to have—it’s a life skill. Let’s treat it like one.

Sources:

Graves, B. S., Hall, M. E., Dias-Karch, C., Haischer, M. H., & Apter, C. (2021). Gender differences in perceived stress and coping among college students. PLoS ONE, 16*(8), e0255634.

Prowse, R., Sherratt, F., Abizaid, A., Gabrys, R. L., Hellemans, K., Patterson, Z. R., et al. (2021). Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic: Examining gender differences in stress and mental health among university students. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 650759.