October 4, 2025

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‘Gen Z Gaze’ Backlash: Why Some Young Workers Avoid Greeting Customers — And Why It’s Driving Older Generations Crazy

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If you’ve ever walked up to a store counter or reception desk and been met with an awkward, silent stare instead of a friendly greeting, you’ve likely experienced what people online are calling the “Gen Z gaze.”
Discussions about the so-called Gen Z gaze have been trending on X, with many older customers sharing frustrations about how younger workers handle basic customer service interactions. They say it’s not about expecting over-the-top friendliness, but about missing the simple courtesy of an acknowledgment.One viral post, which has now been seen more than 1.7 million times, came from user @pbprot, who said they are “so sick of the new style of customer service where people just stare at you when you walk up to the counter/service desk.”

Older generations are accusing young service workers of rude behavior: ‘Greeted with a blank stare.’Javier DÃÂez/Stocksy – stock.adobe.com
“The car service guy saying ‘good morning, I’ll be with you in a minute’ immediately made me start thinking ‘wow, THIS is how you run a business.'” they explained in their post.The very next day, user @Nordman__ echoed a similar experience, writing that “There is a new phenomenon that when you walk into a food place or coffee shop, etc, they just stare at you and don’t say anything first.”

Another user chimed in and gave the expression a name — dubbing it “the Gen Z gaze.”

While it may seem like a small thing to some, many people said the lack of any greeting or acknowledgment when they walk in can be disorienting, especially in roles where interacting with customers is the main part of the job.The original poster, @pbprot, clarified later that they weren’t asking for anything special, but simply pointed out that “how am I supposed to know I’m talking to the right person, or that the person is ready for the interaction and not working on something else, if I’m greeted with a blank stare?”

Another commenter shared a dining experience where they walked into a restaurant and were met with “The Stare from a hostess and what really even is their job other than to greet you?”  When they requested a table for two, the hostess silently led them into the dining area without saying a single word.

“Now — is she showing me to my table? Checking for availability? Quitting on the spot?” the customer wondered.“Why do more and more workers just hit you with the fluoride stare like it’s unnatural that a customer would walk into a place of business.” another person added to the discussion.

“At doctors’ and dentists’, front desk people act like they have no idea why you’re there and give a dazed stare like they don’t know what a doctor or dentist is.” someone else commented.“You walk up to a counter or desk and feel like you need to apologize.” another noted, describing how it feels to approach certain service desks.

Older generations are complaining about how kids these days handle customer service jobs.Cavan Images – stock.adobe.com
Not surprisingly, many workers — some of whom admit they probably give off the “Gen Z gaze” themselves — were quick to defend their behavior, reminding people online that these jobs can be exhausting and often thankless.“No disrespect, but if you had to deal with the insane amount of absolutely f–king braindead people you’ve ever met in your life for 8 hours a day 5 days a week you would do this and people have been doing this since jobs as a concept were invented.” one person wrote in response.

Still, others pushed back, saying that just because a job is tough doesn’t mean customers shouldn’t be greeted politely.

“I remember the first time a friend told me she didn’t think customers were ‘owed’ friendliness. Just a mind-boggling mindset.” one user wrote, adding, “And it’s so insidious, I really don’t think people realize they’re infected with it. Work is so much better for everyone if you’re making an effort!”“It’s just mass entitlement. Everyone is suddenly entitled to everything and they’re mad that they have to work those jobs and can’t have everything handed to them.” another commenter said, pointing to entitlement as part of the problem.

“I had a lady ask to hug me because I was so nice, and she said it made her so relieved to not deal with negativity for once. I was just being normal!” a fellow service worker shared, before adding, “The quality of service is so pathetically low now. It pisses me off so much since I’ve done these jobs and know there’s no excuse.”“They’re extremely coddled people who think they have nothing to lose because they don’t like their job.” the same person who coined “Gen Z gaze” also said.

Some blamed the “Gen Z gaze” on events such as COVID-19 and the increase in the use of modern technology.Drobot Dean – stock.adobe.com
Some believe the phenomenon may also be tied to how social and conversational skills in Gen Z declined following the COVID-19 pandemic, when many young people were still in school and missed out on everyday in-person interactions.In fact, a 2024 survey by the online language learning company Preply found that “reduced (in-person) interactions have particularly affected Gen Z, as many were in education during the pandemic.”

“As a consequence of the virtual world, they have missed out on crucial opportunities to both develop and practice their communication skills.” the company said in a press release.

“This lack of exposure affects their ability to read social cues, engage in spontaneous conversations, and build interpersonal relationships.” Christine Byrne, a public relations executive at Looq AI, told Forbes at the time.One X user took that argument further, pointing to technology habits as a possible cause.

“In general, Gen Z culture doesn’t have a norm for greeting/acknowledging people they don’t already know. Their custom is headphones/eyes down until engagement is required.” wrote user @lauren_wilford.“I think this comes from a combination of screen-habituation (chronically staring at something that never ‘looks back’ at you), social anxiety from lack of practice in the public square, and a new norm around not ‘bothering people’ (inserting yourself into anyone’s social space).”

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