As And Just Like That gets ever more deranged and difficult to follow, we’ve had to find new things to discuss at Vogue HQ on Monday mornings. The topic currently dividing the office? The so-called Gen-Z stare. Understood to describe the vacant, dissociated look that often precedes (or interrupts) a Blank Street matcha order, this habit of glazing over is, apparently, widespread among those born between 1997 and 2012.
Discussion of the Gen-Z stare – which I am not personally familiar with, but am perhaps guilty of using – quickly evolved into a wider conversation around the many (apparently) anti-social habits of an always online generation.
As a “geriatric” Gen-Z, I felt a responsibility to defend my contemporaries, and so took to the streets (British Vogue’s corner of the building), metaphorical tiny mic in hand, where I canvassed Vogue’s youngest and most fresh-faced staffers to ask: is Gen-Z really that bad?
Riann Phillip, associate features editor
“Born in 1999. I was 23 when I wrote about Sex and the City for this very website, and angered a lot of Gen-X-ers.”
“Not really. I struggle with the idea of being perceived.”
“I don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t know.”
“I’ve always thought of that as being a boomer thing? Though I was on the Tube the other day and a group of lads were blasting music from their speaker. I didn’t mind because they were playing bangers tbf.”
“I don’t. My plans usually get cancelled by my fellow Gen-Z friends before I have the chance to.”
“Rarely. The only exception is for the coffee shop near our office, which is chocka in the mornings so it’s essential. But there’s nothing worse than going to a bar and seeing those naff QR codes stuck to the table.”
“We need to bring back ASBOs.”
Ranyechi Udemezue, associate beauty and wellness writer
Instagram content
“I’m 24 and I’m a former Brandy Melville employee.”
“Yes, I’m familiar with it. I have quite an expressive face, so if you catch me with a blank or confused stare, my social battery has probably just run out.”
“I make an effort to stick to plans. It’s socially acceptable to be flaky nowadays – what with all the burnout and fatigue floating around – so I don’t really have anything locked down in my calendar until the morning of.”
“I’ll usually do that to speed things up. I don’t really make much conversation while ordering drinks anyway. When I worked in retail, I loved it when people would just smile, hand me their items and pay in peace.”
“That really depends on your goals. If you want to be an influencer, film away and get that bag.”
“That we’re all phone fiends and like complaining too much. First of all, millennials, Gen-X-ers and boomers are absolutely addicted to their phones – even more so than Gen-Z in my opinion. Second of all, we’ll stop complaining when there’s nothing left to complain about – and we have a house, a car, and a pension.
Charlotte Rutter, associate fashion editor
Instagram content
“I am 27 years old and an independent woman who’s addicted to her phone.”
“No, truthfully, I had to look this up. It’s not something I am aware of doing – if I’m feeling awkward, I usually end up word vomiting.”
“Not unless I really have to.”
“Never! I can’t deal with the guilt.”
“Never to avoid conversation… more due to physical laziness.”
“Not for nor against. I enjoy watching the videos, but I think taking part in one would be a firm no – especially if I was being asked about my savings account.”
“Expecting people to always be reachable just because we have phones – there’s so much pressure to perform and be available to everyone all the time.”
“That we are lazy. I think there is still plenty of ambition amongst Gen-Zs, but modern life is overwhelming in a way that generations before us didn’t experience. It’s a lot harder to execute your ambitions, and the reward for work is a lot less than what it used to be.”
Olivia Allen, fashion writer
Instagram content
“Post-Diana, pre-millennium, chronically online.”
“No, I am a purist. Static posting only.”
“In the words of Addison Rae: ‘Put your headphones on.’”
“I’m a fan of the reverse psychology soft cancel. Eg: ‘Omg babe, don’t worry if you’re too tired, we can do another time.’ Usually when I never had any intention of following through in the first place.”
“Everything is copy.”
“Not to be a Karen but… filming and taking pictures of people without asking. It’s rude! And very obvious. At least say hello before you go all dead-eyed content mode on us.”
Zee Waraich, social video creator
Instagram content
“I’m chronically online, I have undiagnosed ADHD, and I’ve been called ‘woke police’ as a slur.”
“I don’t believe in it. I have never noticed it either. I’ve been told I have an extremely expressive face. Do I sometimes disassociate? Yes. But I think that’s more a symptom of the overstimulating world we live in now.”
“I think there’s a time and place for it – with a good friend, absolutely. But if it goes on too long I get the ick. Some of my friends are literally a brain rot soundboard, and while that’s impressive I think it’s also concerning.”
“100 per cent. Sometimes I don’t need that interaction.”
“If it’s not giving Tiara Skye I don’t want it.”
“I think if you’re experiencing something spectacular, document it within 10 seconds and then stop. If you content farm too hard, are you really living life?”
“That we don’t work. We work! And hard, and passionately, we just have boundaries and an awareness of the importance of people’s emotional needs.”
Rosa Weait, fashion assistant
“I’m 27 and don’t feel very Gen Z.”
“No, I find it way too scary. I admire people who do, though and their confidence.”
“What the helly!? Acceptable in any situation.”
“It depends on the event. I can’t imagine making a TikTok at my wedding or at a funeral… but people do.”
Kaylah Worrell, intern
Instagram content
“I’m a 2004 baby.”
“All the time! I’d like to say I’m a romantic for life. You may catch me filming myself on a train journey, pretending to be a character at the start of a 2000s rom-com. Sue me!”
“I think it's cute! Sometimes informative, but then again, sometimes annoying? I’m conflicted.”
“Scrolling through TikTok while failing to have a conversation. I get so mad at my friends for it.”