Discover why Gen Z's blank stare is causing a stir online. From workplace encounters to viral TikToks, explore how this expression became the latest generational divide.

Learn why the "Gen Z Stare" is more than a blank, disengaged expression, why employers can't afford to misread it and what its deeper more serious meaning really holds.

Karli Mayer, a 25-year-old dental hygiene student in Denver, Colorado, said she will unleash her “Gen Z stare” when something weird, unexpected, or a little “cringe” happens, or when she cannot hear exactly what was said.

Cultural habits shift from generation to generation, and a notable Gen-Z social trait may actually be our fault.

It's because of instances like this that Shea, who describes herself as solidly left-wing, draws a hard line when it comes to dating and politics: If someone's on the far-right, she's not interested. If someone's moderate or center-right − in the vein of John McCain or Mitt Romney, she says − she might give them a chance.

"Big yikes" is a phrase used in response to "something that's really embarrassing, disturbing, or shocking," said Reader's Digest. Using it "expresses a strong sense of cringe, awkwardness or disapproval," said the International Center for Language Studies.

Those days feel worlds away and yet Y2K has made a resounding comeback among younger generations. Whether it's fashion, movies, TV or music, many people from Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) are returning to that era and making it au courant once again.

Dozens of conversations with members of Gen Z have convinced me that the most prominent aspect of their generational character is that they’re small-c conservative. This is frequently misunderstood as politically conservative (more on that in a second).