By Alice Gibbs

Copyright newsweek

A viral Reddit post has sparked debate over the so-called “Gen Z stare” after a passenger claimed he encountered the trend during a long-haul flight.A Reddit user, writing on the website’s r/Vent forum, said he was traveling with his wife on a 15-hour flight from Manila to Paris when they discovered her seat would not recline.Looking behind them, he noticed a young man in his early 20s leaning against the seat.When he asked the man’s seatmate to move him, he claimed she responded with what he described as the Gen Z stare—a blank, disdainful look that has become associated with younger generations on social media.“I stand up and ask the girl who’s seating next to him that we need to recline the seat, just to be met with that long Gen Z stare and a grimace of disdain,” the Redditor wrote. “She ends up gesturing with her hand pointing out that her friend is sleeping.”After repeated attempts to resolve the issue, the poster said a flight attendant intervened, ordering the passenger to stop leaning on the seat. But they were frustrated and said: “What’s wrong with these new generation? [sic]”What is the Gen Z stare?The Gen Z stare—a blank, unsmiling look popular in selfies and TikToks—may seem like a dirty look from a younger person, but research suggests it reflects deeper cultural shifts.Geoffrey Beattie, professor of psychology at Edge Hill University, told Newsweek that the so-called Gen Z stare is “a facial expression characterized by a combination of nonchalance, skepticism, and confidence, often conveyed through a direct, intense, or slightly disinterested look.”He said the expression, often seen on TikTok, memes and social media images, has “gone viral” as a way for young people to project “a sense of coolness, independence, or ‘attitude.’” https://www.reddit.com/r/Vent/comments/1ngsc4c/today_i_experimented_the_gen_z_stare_on_a_flight/ “Essentially, it’s a form of self-expression and, in addition, a generational marker, an attempt to project the generation’s values of authenticity and individuality,” Beattie said. “It often signifies empowerment, as young people assert their identity and challenge traditional social norms.”The look can also be a show of “disinterest or defiance in an exaggerated manner,” he added, making it a powerful meme and a visual shorthand for belonging to a group.“It’s a novel sort of image,” Beattie said. “Never has a generation been more photographed. The digital age, and their use of images, constantly requires novelty. A cool way of signifying Gen Z’s approach to social interaction, although sometimes somewhat disconcerting for those from other generations on the receiving end of the stare.”A file photo of a group of people on an airplane.Commenters push backIn the comments section, many Redditors rejected the idea that the incident reflected generational behavior.“It’s not just Gen Z. Flying just brings out the jerks,” one user wrote. Another added: “A***holes exist everywhere, every age, gender, religion… Don’t get caught up in the generational blame game.”Several commenters suggested rudeness is found across age groups, with some pointing out that older travelers can be just as entitled during flights.In response, the poster wrote: “Of course I don’t think all Gen Z are rude and older are delightful, but I’m just pointing out the weird ways of this young people.“I mean, if I’m talking to you, why don’t you respond? Why that blank stare?”