"You greet everyone warmly, introduce yourself, and ask if anyone would like to start with a drink. Instead of an answer, you're met with a blank stare as if you spoke in a language no one understands. You wait a beat, and when nothing changes, you ask again. Still no answer. You are now caught in the empty gaze of the Gen Z stare."
"It's the habit among some members of Gen Z, aged 13 to 28, of not answering verbally when asked a question. Instead, they give an expressionless stare that betrays no emotion or hint of what they might be thinking. For many, it's incredibly frustrating because it's impossible to read and brings any social interaction to a halt. For restaurant staff, this can throw off the pace of a shift badly."
"There's mounting evidence it's a widespread phenomenon that even occurs in the workplace. Explaining why it happens is harder. Psychologists are only beginning to take notice, suggesting explanations that range from emotional self-protection to cultural desensitization. It's even been suggested this is simply a fad that spread on social media and was adopted by the younger generation. But none of that makes it easier for restaurant staff to deal with."
Some members of Generation Z sometimes respond to direct questions with an expressionless, nonverbal stare rather than answering verbally. The behavior commonly appears in service settings such as restaurants, halting interactions, frustrating staff, and slowing shifts. Anecdotal reports and emerging evidence indicate the behavior occurs widely, including in workplaces. Psychologists propose explanations including emotional self-protection, cultural desensitization, heavy screen exposure, pandemic-related social isolation, and adoption via social media trends. The phenomenon remains difficult to fully explain and presents practical challenges for workers who must manage disrupted communication and slowed service.
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