The Washington Post1 min read

The ‘Gen Z stare’ — and the decline of saying things out loud

Democracy Dies in Darkness

We’re speaking fewer words every year. Scientists worry what that’s doing to our brains.

Illustration of people floating with speech bubbles

(Illustration by Ard Su/For The Washington Post)

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It’s become a familiar TikTok trope.

A millennial walks into a coffee shop and tries to order something. There are countless iterations, but the basic dynamic is the same: The cashier responds with a gawp, says as little as possible and points to a sign. Another question; another point. One more question. Point. Eye roll.


What readers are saying

The comments reflect a range of perspectives on generational communication habits, particularly focusing on Gen Z. Some commenters express frustration with perceived communication deficits among younger generations, such as lack of eye contact and minimal verbal interaction,... Show more

This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.

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