According to a survey, financial health, including good savings, low debt, good credit scores, and budgeting, is more important than looks.

Banarsë compared it to the "Millennial Pause," a brief moment of silence before speaking in a video, adding that today's social quirks go viral more quickly. Banarsë added that the stare is part of Gen Z's move toward authenticity and boundary-setting—where emotional labor isn't automatically performed to meet outdated norms.

Now, to be fair to zoomers, a few weeks ago there were a few posts — and a write-up from the New York Post, naturally — complaining about the Gen Z "gaze" from service workers. That's seemingly related to the "stare" debate now, but it's certainly evolved.

This week's discourse has revolved around the so-called "Gen Z stare" in professional and retail environments. But what are people really talking about?

“Hey Gen Z. Millennial here with a friendly reminder that you’ll be old before you even know it ,” warned a decidedly bitter commenter. “They say this now until it’s time for them to be in their 30s, and the next generation calls them old at that age,” agreed another.

While 59 percent of millennials said they would prioritize a "broke and magical" relationship over financial security, only 54 of Gen Z said the same.

The thumbs up emoji is just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe you’ve made a joke on a group and someone reacts with an emoji shedding copious amount of tears, or wo