News

Generational divides are always a hot topic on TikTok, especially when it comes to Gen Z. The “Gen Z” stare is the latest trend to be discussed on the social media platform. Some argue that Gen Zers working in customer service have noticeably fewer social skills than previous generations. Others say it is difficult to generalize the behavior of an entire generation.

TikTok users refer to the Gen Z stare as a blank stare given by Gen Zers while others are trying to communicate with them. According to videos posted online on the topic, it mainly refers to a look being employed by customer service workers. Older generations say it occurs instead of a greeting or small talk while working at a cash register, for instance.

The topic has been subject to much debate on TikTok. Some argue about its existence, while others say it is a reaction to customers not understanding basic information being communicated to them. Some also say that the Gen Z stare can be triggered by anxiety and a rejection of small talk, a customary part of customer service culture in the United States.

Discussions surrounding generational divides perform well on TikTok. In the past, topics of debate have included the millennial pause (a small pause taken by millennials after pressing record on their phones) or millennial cringe, which refers to videos of millennials acting in a way deemed to be ridiculous or funny by Gen Zers on the app.

@samishere_99 Gen z stare is permanently plastered on my face #genz #genzstare #fyp #trending #viral #fy ♬ original sound – Sumana Isa 🙂

@leftisttradwife All the #tea all the #shade #staringcontest #genz ♬ original sound – ✨Kait✨

How did the discourse around the Gen Z stare come to be?

Discourse and debate about the Gen Z stare was started in part by 30-year-old TikTok user Riley Despot, who went viral after recounting an interaction with her daughter’s gold instructor. She said she was met with a stare as she thanked the coach, and was met with a very brief response when enquiring about payment, according to Newsweek.

“Looking back on the actual situation I encountered, I don’t think the golf instructor had rude or malicious intentions. However, it came across that way. The conversation was just so awkward. I also walked away wondering if I had done something wrong,” Despot said.

She also told the news outlet that she finds generational differences interesting to discuss, although they can’t be generalized.

@xiandivyne #fyp #xiandivyne ♬ original sound – Christian Divyne

@thisisjenae ♬ original sound – jenae

Could the Gen Z stare be triggered by social anxiety?

A common explanation to the Gen Z stare is that it is due to feelings of awkwardness or social anxiety felt by younger generations.

“Like all things that gain attention, I think it’s because the generations disagree on what it actually is. If you read the comments on my post, Gen Z seems to think it’s more of a judgment stare, while most other people agree it’s a result of social anxiety or just being awkward,” 20-year-old TikToker user Kenny Finegan told Newsweek.

Some experts agree that a blank reaction can be due to feelings of being overwhelmed while interacting in person after being used to exchanging with others online. They also refer to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hindered many Gen Zers’ social interactions at a formative age.

“I see the stare as a visible manifestation of internal overwhelm. Gen Z grew up with asynchronous digital communication, where you have time to craft responses,” Daren Banarsë, a senior psychotherapist at IN Therapy, told Newsweek. “Real-time face-to-face interaction can trigger a sort of cognitive traffic jam, where their brains need extra seconds to process unexpected social demands.”

Others see social media, in particular the proliferation of online scrutiny and constant stimulation, as having contributed to a form of burnout for Gen Z.

“We’re the first generation to grow up with our faces constantly on display in selfies, stories, video calls, with everything being scrutinized online,” Gen Z self-help expert Tam Kaur told Newsweek. “That creates a heightened sense of self-consciousness and a fear of being judged, even in the smallest interactions.”

At least 15 million Americans may be affected after a Texas court reversed a Biden-era policy that aimed to remove medical debt from credit reports. Per The Hill, U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan made the ruling on Friday, saying the Fair Credit Reporting Act doesn’t give the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau authority to wipe away medical debt from credit reports. Donald Trump appointed Jordan during his first term as president.

What did Joe Biden’s administration say about clearing medical debt?

Joe Biden’s administration planned to remove at least $50 billion of medical debt from millions of Americans with the policy he passed during his term. Former Vice President Kamala Harris also showed support for removing medical debt during her 2024 presidential campaign.

“No one should be denied economic opportunity because they got sick or experienced a medical emergency,” Harris said during her campaign, per The Hill. “We also reduced the burden of medical debt by increasing pathways to forgiveness and cracking down on predatory debt-collection tactics.”

Still, Donald Trump’s closest supporters are praising the latest ruling. Dan Smith, head of the Consumer Data Industry Association, expressed his support in a statement to Reuters.

“This is the right outcome for protecting the integrity of the system,” Smith said, per Reuters.

What are other actions Donald Trump aimed to take against the CFPB?

Trump attempted to dismantle the CFPB earlier this year, but his plan was blocked by the federal court. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson stopped the administration from firing CFPB employees, The Hill reported. She also allowed for previously terminated workers to be reinstated.

Trump’s effort to dismantle the CFPB is part of his plan to tear down several other government agencies that he sees as a waste of money. As part of that effort, the president recently signed a spending and tax bill that could take away Medicaid from millions of people.

Chrisette Michele is breaking her silence on her recent autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. As Blavity reported, the Grammy-winning singer shared on Instagram that after meeting with a neurologist, she learned that she’s autistic. Following the news, Michele’s fans rallied around her with words of love and encouragement.

Recently, she sat down with Blavity to discuss how she’s been coping with her autism and how she plans to spread awareness about it.

Michele grew up in a family that worked within the mental health field. Her mother was able to spot signs early on that she may have been autistic.

“My mom was almost like a personal advocate for me. She saw my learning disabilities from [a] really young [age] and got different types of government assistance where you could bring certain types of tools and supplies to school or stay after class later for a longer time to finish your work and things like that,” Michele told Blavity. “From the time I was really, really young, I had always known that I learned it differently from the other kids. I also knew that I did different activities or I was more fixated on different activities than the other kids.”

She added, “It was a lot of help and a lot of assistance from my mom from the time I was a kid all the way through into my music career, where she then moved out of special education and became my manager to continue to assist me.”

Michele believes music was her saving grace as she moved throughout her life while knowing that she was different, saying that it kept her “grounded.”

How has Chrisette Michele’s autism diagnosis changed her outlook on life and work?

When Michele was officially diagnosed with autism, the moment was both surprising and validating.

“I’m expecting to go to the neurologist and maybe she’ll say I’m autistic, maybe she won’t. So, the word severe was jarring, but when I tell you it was also liberating, validating,” she said.

“It was like a permission slip to say, ‘Yeah, all of my life I’ve been working hard to be the best that I can be, and finally somebody has given me words to explain what it is that I’ve been fighting.”

For Michele, it’s important for her to note that autism isn’t one-size-fits-all and that its severity exists on a broad, nuanced scale.

“You can have many traits that the person next to you doesn’t have,” she explained. “There’s level one, there’s level two, and there’s level three, and level two falls under severe, and level three falls under severe. I think the hardest part and the part that needed the most clarity, especially for people who don’t know much about autism, is what is severe and severe can happen or be the diagnosis for a broad spectrum of people. I am level two, severe.”

While many music artists rely on massive teams for support, Michele has a deeper complexity behind her need for help.

“One big part of a mask as an autistic person is trying to not let people see how much help you need. You don’t tell everybody,” she said. “My drummer doubles as my security, or my team helps me with everything that I’m doing, making decisions, etc. You don’t say it, not because you’re ashamed, but because, gosh…do I need more help than most people in the music industry?” 

“You see a lot of people with entourages needing a lot of help, so it looks normal to have help, but one thing that I’m doing to show up differently is being brave about saying when I need help,” she added. “Being brave about saying, ‘The lights are too bright.’ Being brave about saying, ‘No, my drum shield has to be on my drum kit. I can’t handle the noise of loud drums.’ Or ‘No, my sound check has to be longer.’”

Chrisette Michele’s autism diagnosis has sparked a sense of advocacy

While therapy has been a longtime staple for Michele, it wasn’t until she found an autistic-affirming therapist that she felt fully seen.

“I’m a therapy junkie. Like, since I got into the business. I was like, therapy is going to be my jam, but I didn’t know they had autistic-affirming therapy,” she said. “Affirming therapy is a therapist who understands your traits as a person with autism and understands how you show up in the world as a person with autism, and they don’t make you feel awkward or weird for having the responses and reactions that you have. Rather, they give you language to help express yourself so that everyone can understand your experience.”

For women in their 30s and 40s who quietly suspect they may be neurodivergent but haven’t pursued a diagnosis, Michele offers some advice: “You really want to go visit a neurologist. I’ve gotten a brain scan. I’ve gotten tested for ADHD. I’m in the top 10 percentile of people with ADHD, which would probably be called severe,” she said. “

She added, “You really want to get a diagnosis because it gives you language to help explain or describe yourself for your own self-awareness. Everything is not necessarily about being able to preach or tell other people what you have. A lot of it is so that you can just be self-aware. It’s good for your mental peace. It’s good for your own personal experience.”

What’s next for Chrisette Michele?

Looking toward the future, Michele hopes her self-titled podcast, The Chrisette Michele Podcast, and other opportunities give her the platform to be a nurturing environment for others.

“I’m really excited about podcasting and any speaking engagements that I get the opportunity to just be really neurodivergent friendly,” she said. “I think a place that’s sorely lacking in the neurodivergent space is autistic joy, ADHD joy, just neurodivergent joy, and allowing yourself to be excited about tackling life. However, you are showing up a little bit different.” 

She continued, “My friends, family, and my band know that when I’m excited, I run back and forth, but the world doesn’t know. And what’s wrong with jumping up and down as a 42-year-old, even though other 42-year-olds don’t? They call it stimming or they call it having just a really excited moment, so I’m hoping that I’m able to navigate a respectful, conscious conversation in the neurodivergent space and create safe spaces for people to talk about their experience.” 

What began as a search for answers has evolved into a full-circle celebration of self for Michelle: “I’ve done so many things in my personal life to sort of celebrate this moment through self-expression,” she said, “and my self-expression often is painting or going out and having fun with friends, so it’s been very, very celebratory in my personal life. I just feel free.”

A Morehouse College graduate faces deportation after a routine traffic stop led to his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and the HBCU community has come to his aid.

Alex Maganda is being held at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, following a traffic violation.

His arrest has sparked a wave of support from the HBCU community, with alums and influencers rallying to highlight his case. Maganda, who came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 5, was a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. However, his DACA status recently expired. 

His girlfriend, Maszoliin Spencer, expressed concerns about his future to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, saying, “This man has been here since 2000. It’s 2025 and he’s 30 years old and has this huge community. He doesn’t know anyone [in Mexico]. He’s from there, but he doesn’t know anything. This country shaped him.”

Carrie Nguyen, Maganda’s attorney, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution her client has a good chance of being released on immigration bond.

“He graduated high school, had a very accomplished football career, went to Morehouse, has a good job, he pays his taxes, he has a U.S. citizen girlfriend,” Nguyen said, adding, “Did he make a mistake? Absolutely. But who hasn’t? He’s not a danger to the community and he’s not a flight risk because there are ways for him to obtain his residency down the road.”

HBCU students and alums come together

Capital B and Black Enterprise have reported on how social media has played a pivotal role in raising awareness about Maganda’s situation.

Fellow Morehouse alum JaMarcus Toomer and Spelman College graduate Lynae Vanee have used their platforms to highlight his case. 

Vanee shared, “I am reaching out with an urgent plea for assistance regarding our brother, friend, and classmate, Alex Maganda, a member of the Class of 2018, who has recently been detained by ICE.”

Toomer echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of solidarity within the HBCU community. The hashtag #FreeAlexMaganda has gained traction, with supporters calling for action to prevent his deportation. 

According to Spencer, Maganda has felt comforted by the outpouring of support from his HBCU peers. 

“I don’t feel alone, he doesn’t feel alone, his family doesn’t feel alone,” Spencer told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “If we can get him home that would be the biggest blessing.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has announced its 2025 class of honorary members. The organization bestowed four women with its highest distinction: Olympian Gabby Thomas, former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, CNN anchor and analyst Laura Coates and model Beverly Johnson. Alpha Kappa Alpha chose to award the title to trailblazing women in their profession.

“Welcoming these phenomenal women into our Sisterhood is a powerful testament to our legacy of distinction,” International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed said, according to Watch the Yard. “Their voices and vision will further strengthen our mission of impactful service to all mankind.”

Reed led the induction ceremony, which was held during Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 2025 Leadership Seminar in Anaheim, California.

“These trailblazers were honored for their excellence in leadership, groundbreaking achievements, and transformative service that uplift communities around the world,” the organization added in an Instagram post. “Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Honorary Membership is the highest recognition bestowed upon individuals who embody our core values: scholarship, service, and sisterhood.”

Gabby Thomas is the first Ivy League graduate to win an Olympic track & field medal

The athlete graduated from Harvard University with a degree in neurobiology and global health. She has used her platform to advocate for diversity in STEM fields and encourage young women to pursue careers in science and public health.

Thomas also competed in both the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris. Last summer, she won gold medals in the 200-meter as well as the 4×100-meter relay races.

Karine Jean-Pierre is the first Black person to be White House Press Secretary

Not only was Jean-Pierre the first Black person to hold the position of White House Press Secretary during the Biden administration, she also became the longest-serving woman and first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the role.

Jean-Pierre has held several communications roles during the Biden and Obama administrations. She previously worked as a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.

Laura Coates is the first Black woman Chief Legal Analyst and Anchor at CNN

Coates became a recognizable face at CNN after joining the network in 2016, according to CAA. She also hosts her own show on SiriusXM, The Laura Coates Show, on which she interviews politicians. Coats previously worked as a federal prosecutor and a law professor.

Beverly Johnson is the first Black woman to be featured on the cover of American Vogue

Johnson was part of a milestone moment in American media when she became the first Black model to appear on the cover of US Vogue in August 1974. 

“It’s definitely an American story,” Johnson told the publication as it celebrated the issue’s 50th anniversary, “in the way that you have a chance at opportunities that you would never have anywhere else in the world…and how it’s possible to stumble upon success. I was a student and I wanted to be a lawyer [when I was scouted at 18]; this never was in my scope. It’s only in America where you can totally redesign your life unintentionally.”

Damola Adamolekun, the new CEO of Red Lobster, is continuing to improve the popular restaurant chain’s customer experience by listening to its customers.

Last week, Red Lobster posted a PSA featuring the executive on its TikTok and Instagram pages to address some recent feedback about the two new successful seafood boil menu options that were introduced in June.

Red Lobster CEO’s message for customers

The 36-year-old shared that he and his team have been paying attention to the suggestions patrons have left in the comment sections of its social media platforms.

“Hello Lobster Nation! Damola here. We dropped our new seafood boils, and you guys really, really, really showed up. We appreciate all the love and the excitement,” Adamolekun said at the start of the recording. “Also, we heard you in the comments. You want even more heat, even more flavors.” 

He went on to explain how they will accommodate the desires of those wanting more choices by offering different spice levels and new seasoning selections in addition to adding more meat.

“So, we’re turning it up. We’re offering original, spicy and extra spicy. Me? I’m going with the extra spicy,” he added. “And adding a new flavor as well: Old Bay and Parmesan. Want to add sausage? We’ve got you. You can do it all now at Red Lobster.”

Adamolekun ended the video by thanking his staff nationwide for incorporating the new updates to their locations’ menus swiftly.

“And finally, shout out to the teams, our servers, managers, chefs, and operators who were able to make all these changes happen in just one week,” he said. “Stay hungry, keep commenting, and we’ll keep cracking.”

Celebrities and Red Lobster fans recommended Adamolekun on his decision to listen to customers.

“Let’s support this young king ! @redlobster🔥,” Rick Ross wrote under the Instagram post. 

“That’s gotta be the FASTEST customer satisfaction turnaround in Corporate history!!! 🦞👏🔥,” someone else chimed in.

“That’s how you make improvements! Listen to the people! 🗣️🗣️🗣️👏🏾,” another person commented.

Red Lobster’s fresh start under new leadership

As Blavity reported, the restaurant’s Crab Fest returned in June with two options for those interested in trying the seafood boils: the Mariner’s Boil and the Sailor’s Boil. The first option comes stacked with a Maine lobster tail, snow crab legs and a full dozen shrimp, all served alongside corn and red potatoes. The latter offers a hearty combo of shrimp and smoked sausage, rounded out with the same classic sides.

Adamolekun assumed the role of CEO in August of 2024 after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 19, 2024, when Red Lobster Management LLC and several affiliates submitted their petitions in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Orlando, Florida. Under his leadership, the menu has undergone several changes, including the reintroduction of beloved Hush Puppies, the addition of multiple items under $20 and a $5 happy hour featuring select appetizers and drinks, among other updates. 

Elmo‘s account on X, formerly Twitter, was hacked Sunday and flooded with antisemitic slurs, profanity, and anti-Trump remarks, a shift from the positivity typically shared by the beloved Sesame Street character.

Business Insider reported that a spokesperson for Sesame Workshop, the parent company that produces Sesame Street, spoke out against the disturbing comments on the platform, calling them “disgusting.”

“Elmo’s X account was compromised by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts,” the spokesperson told the outlet.

“We are working to restore full control of the account,” they added.

Elmo, one of the breakout stars of the long-running children’s program, is known for his cheerful and likable personality and motivational messages, especially to the 650,000 followers who follow the character’s account on X. However, the comments on Sunday alarmed users on the platform.

In addition to the antisemitic and profane remarks, the account also called President Donald Trump a “puppet” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanded to “RELEASE THE FILES,” referring to the Jeffrey Epstein files, per Business Insider.

The posts remained on the account for half an hour before being removed, according to Mediaite, which shared screenshots of the messages.

Elmo’s hacked account comes just a few days after Grok, X’s artificial intelligence chatbot, faced backlash for praising Hitler and sharing antisemitic comments and offensive remarks from its X account, Blavity reported.

The messages were in response to a Jewish user who shared a post about the deadly Texas floods that killed more than two dozen children and staff members at a Christian summer camp.

Grok then shared posts about Hitler being the ideal person to handle people like the user who celebrated the deaths of the children in the tragic incident.

The company then issued a statement condemning Grok’s controversial comments: “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts,” the chatbot’s account posted later Tuesday. “Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X.”

The price of stamps is going up. The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the latest increase on Sunday, saying the price for first-class “forever” stamps has risen from 73 cents to 78 cents. Per The Hill, the Forever stamp includes new Spongebob Squarepants designs, as well as collections honoring the USPS’s 250th anniversary and former first lady Barbara Bush.

“The Postal Service’s Market Dominant and Competitive Services price increases take effect this weekend,” USPS Senior Public Relations Representative Marti Johnson said in a statement, per USA Today.

Johnson said the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), which oversees the postal service, approved the increase after revealing in May that prices would go up.

“The Postal Service continues to take a rational and realistic approach to pricing that includes prudent implementation of new and existing pricing authorities, with letter prices still significantly lower than other comparable foreign posts,” Johnson said in a previous statement to USA Today.

Why is the price of stamps going up?

The USPS released a statement in April to explain why prices are going up. The postal service said at that time that an increase is “needed to achieve the financial stability sought by the organization’s Delivering for America 10-year plan.” The USPS added that prices still “remain among the most affordable in the world.”

What are some USPS products that will cost more?

The USPS is increasing the price of several other products. That includes domestic postcards, which are increasing from 56 cents to 62 cents. Letters are also increasing from 69 cents to 74 cents, while the price of international postcards is going from $1.65 to $1.70.

The latest increase from USPS comes after the price of Forever Stamps rose from 68 cents to 73 cents in 2024. Last year’s price change was the largest increase since 2019, The Hill reported. The USPS expects prices to continue increasing in the coming years.

A San Francisco judge has ruled that CNN alum Don Lemon can move forward with his lawsuit against Elon Musk. According to The Grio, Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn concluded that Lemon has reasonable evidence to prove his breach of contract lawsuit.

“The ruling means Don can hold X and Musk accountable in open court,” Lemon’s attorney, Carney Shegerian, told Deadline. “Musk is subject to the legal process, just like everyone else, and that’s important. There’s no question about Musk’s motives and liability, as documented in his own texts and on X for millions to see.”

Why is Don Lemon suing Elon Musk?

Lemon filed his lawsuit against Musk due to a dispute over the show he launched on X in 2024. In his lawsuit, Lemon said he was forced to terminate his show on Musk’s social media platform after the pair sat down for an intense interview when they taped the first episode. Per the complaint, Musk sent a text to Lemon’s agent after canceling the show, saying “contract is canceled.”

The lawsuit states that Brett Weitz, the former head of content, talent, and brand sales for X, told Lemon that the platform is “not going to pay him or follow through with the promises and representations made to him because there was no signed agreement.” However, Musk previously told Lemon “that there would be no need for a formal written agreement or to ‘fill out paperwork,’” the complaint states.

Lemon said X offered him a one-year deal for the show, requiring him to provide “exclusive rights to specific video content for a 24-hour period before it could be dispersed to other platforms.” Per the complaint, X promised to pay Lemon $1.5 million, along with other incentives.

Lemon said he was rushed into the deal and told that he would have to attend the CES conference in January or the offer would be canceled. With his “knowledge of Yaccarino’s reputation as a successful media executive,” Lemon agreed to enter into the exclusive partnership deal, the lawsuit states, per Deadline.

What did the judge determine in the latest ruling on Don Lemon’s lawsuit against Elon Musk?

The San Francisco court dismissed Lemon’s accusations of negligent misrepresentation, defamation, retaliation, negligence, and harassment. However, Lemon is allowed to move forward with his claims of fraud, misappropriation of name and likeness, and breach of implied contract.

According to Deadline, Musk hoped the case would move to a Texas federal court. However, Musk’s request was denied.

Paris Jackson, the daughter of Michael Jackson, is accusing her father’s estate of mismanagement of funds. Court documents obtained by People reveal that Paris is concerned with payments that were awarded to three law firms in 2018.

The documents state that the 27-year-old objects to granting “premium payments” for unrecorded attorney time. Paris’ complaint specified a six-month period in 2018, saying this is when the co-executors of her father’s estate requested payments of $625,000 for the law firms for “uncaptured time.”

The document states that two of the firms had already received their payments, making this a violation of the “Court’s order allowing only partial payment of attorneys’ fees until Court approval is obtained.”

“Even worse, these payments appear, at least in part, to consist of lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel,” the complaint adds, per Hello.

What did Paris Jackson say about the alleged mismanaged funds of her father’s estate?

In her objection, Paris raised concerns about a lack of transparency and oversight, specifically objecting to the payments being made without proper court approval. She argued that the attorney fees were not only premature but potentially excessive, especially considering the court had previously mandated partial payments pending review. Her legal team also described the payments as “gratuities” that did not serve the estate’s beneficiaries.

How is Michael Jackson’s estate responding to Paris’ accusations?

Michael Jackson’s estate has released a statement to deny the accusations brought forth by Paris.

“The Executors’ approval of payments to attorneys have been made with the same business judgment that has earned this Estate over $3 billion,” the estate said in the statement, per People. “We are confident that the objected-to payments are appropriate as, indeed, they are fully consistent with payments made in the decade prior, all of which have been approved by the Probate Court.”

According to Hello, Michael Jackson divided his estate between his children and his mother, Katherine, as well as several children’s charities. Michael’s three children—Prince, Paris, and Bigi—get 40% of his estate, while his mother also gets 40%. The charities get the remaining 20%.