The Gen Z stare is going viral. But why?
It's a generation game at BBC Bitesize! (Blimey, I'm old…)
Whether it's the 'Gen Z stare' or the 'millennial pause', socials are awash with memes, myths and murmurs about the generations. So, at BBC Bitesize, we've put together this article to give you an insight into which 'gen' is which, and what you should know about them!
1. Who are Gen Z?
Generation Z, or Zoomers as they're sometimes known, are the generation born between 1997 and 2012.
Gen Z are the first 'digital native' generation, meaning they're the first generation in the west to have grown up in an internet age, which accounts for Gen Z's widespread social media presence.
2. What are Gen Z like?
Gen Z tend to be very social media savvy and are often the starting point for popular memes or trends on social.
Despite their online influence, research suggests that Gen Z is a less 'hedonistic' generation than those before, with a YouGov survey of 18-24 year olds finding that 39% of those polled did not drink alcohol at all - making Gen Z the most sober generation around.
There's been lots of reasons suggested for this, from the lingering effects of the pandemic and lockdown, to increased consciousness around health and well-being, to social media diminishing the need to pub and club.
Gen Z also appear to be more academically focused, with a study from Pew Research Centre - a US non-partisan think tank - finding that Gen Z were more focused on getting top grades than the generation before them, with nine-tenths of those polled feeling pressure to perform at school.
3. What comes after Gen Z?
The generation after Gen Z is known as Gen Alpha.
Generation Alpha is the first generation to be born wholly in the 21st Century, and consists of people born between the early 2010s and the mid-2020s.
Prior to Gen Z came the Millennials, who themselves were preceded by Generation X. Before Gen X came the Baby Boomers - who's name originated in the post-WW2 baby boom across Europe.
The generation before the baby boomers was known as the 'silent generation'. This generation is relatively small in numbers, as widespread economic problems and the beginning of WW2 led to fewer people having children.
The 'Greatest Generation' came ahead of the silent generation. This was the generation that made up the majority of enlisted forces in WW2, hence the name.
The first named generation on record was the 'Lost Generation', most of whom came of age in the early-1900s. The name was popularised by author Ernest Hemingway, and is a reference to both those killed during WW1, as well as survivors of the war who often came home feeling disoriented and directionless.
4. Where did the name Gen Z come from?
While other generations, like the Baby Boomers or the Greatest Generation may have a long, storied past that earned them their name, for Gen Z it's quite simple - the alphabet!
Whilst we may now know the generation before Gen Z as the Millennials, this group were originally called Generation Y - following in the footsteps of Generation X.
As such, the next generation became known as Generation Z, before we looped back round to the start of the alphabet with Generation Alpha.
Other names have been suggested for Gen Z, most notably 'the iGeneration', in reference to this generation's connection to the internet and mobile devices.
5. What is Gen Z slang?
There's an awful lot of language and terminology used by Gen Z that might not seem quite as obvious to those from different generations. Social media in particular has brought rise to a whole host of slang terms and shortenings you might not be familiar with.
An online friend, for example, might be referred to as an 'oomf' or a mutual. 'Oomf' is short for 'one of my followers' (or 'one of my friends'), while mutual refers to a person who you follow online and who follows you back.
'Ijbol' is a modern day 'LOL', and stands for 'I just burst out laughing', while the bane of many a parent's existence - 'slay' - is a term used where a millennial might have said 'you killed it', referring to something being done impressively, with style and confidence.
Interested in learning more about Gen Z vocab? Check out this article all about brain rot!
6. What is the Gen Z stare?
If you've been on TikTok of late, there's a solid chance you've seen posts about 'the Gen Z stare', but… what is it?
Well, the Gen Z stare refers to a kind of blank look that zoomers are perceived to give when asked a question. For example, if a barista asks what you want with your coffee, and your reply is nothing more than a blank, slightly confused expression - that's the Gen Z stare.
This isn't the only social faux-pas often attributed to Gen Z online. Another common trope about zoomers is their inability to handle phone calls - whether that be sitting silently until somebody else speaks, or just refusing to answer all together!
As a matter of fact, a 2024 Uswitch study found that 70% of 18-34 year olds prefer texting to phone calls, with 23% saying they never answer a call.
7. What generation am I?
Wondering which generation you are? What about your parents? Or your grandparents even? Well, wonder no longer, we've got you covered!
- Generation Beta: born 2025 onwards
- Generation Alpha: born 2013-2025
- Generation Z: born 1997-2012
- Millennials: born 1981-1996
- Generation X: born 1965-1980
- Baby boomers: born 1946-1964
- Silent Generation: born 1928-1945
- Greatest Generation: born 1901-1927
- Lost Generation: born 1883-1900
