As an early 90’s millennial, I’ve never noticed a “gen z stare” as described in news articles like a “blank face that shows lack of social skill or ability to think”. The only times I’ve witnessed it happen and seen the older person accuse them of “gen z stare” is when the older person says something off hand or dumb but isn’t self aware enough to realize they’re being weird. Hell, I’ve given people a blank face countless times because I was taught it was better to say nothing at all sometimes. Especially when it came to talking to older people at work.

I remember when I was 16, some middle aged guy at work accused me of having no personality. In reality, I kept all conversations short as possible with him (like almost everyone in the store) because they were casually racist and misogynistic.

  • RegularJoe@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    3 days ago

    Here’s a quote from that article

    Galvin says the facial expression is a subtle cue from a digital-native generation raised on screens, fast content and online communication. “For many Gen Zers, constant eye contact doesn’t always signal attentiveness the way it might for older colleagues,” he explains. “What a Boomer or Gen X manager may perceive as checked-out might actually be Gen Z’s version of active listening.”

    Sujay Saha, president of Cortico-X agrees. “Gen Z entered the workforce in an era defined by screens, social distancing and remote communication, and companies must now close the experience gap with empathy-focused onboarding and support, not judgment,” he told me.