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.
Remember when you’re mother told you, “if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all”? Well gen z kids raise by the kids rasied on that behavior. The second line in this societal meme. They don’t insult but they don’t give fake small talk to cover it. Maybe I’m projecting but i feel the gen z stare is the evolution of that mindset.
That’s a pretty profound theory, I completely see what you’re getting at. To the YouTube video-essay factory with you!