Featured Image Credit: (Getty Stock Images)
Topics: Viral, Social Media, TikTok
Brenna Cooper
Older generations around the world will be relieved to learn there is a Gen Z version of the infamous 'millennial pause'.
By now you're probably more than aware as to what the millennial pause is, which describes the one second silence between when a person presses record on their phone and when they begin speaking. The mannerism is particularly noticeable in short-form video content such as TikTok and Instagram reels.
This seconds long gap between pressing record on your phone and beginning your spiel may seem fairly innocuous - but it's apparently a big tell in figuring out when a person was born, just as much as your choice in emoji or style of jeans.
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Famous examples of people who fall into the millennial pause trap are Taylor Swift, who is the face of the term's wikipedia page, and even Kim Kardashian.
But for any millennials who've been left feeling self-conscious over zoomer's teasing don't worry, as there is a similar mannerism which the younger generation are guilty of.
Enter the Gen Z Shake.
Unlike millennials, who will wait until they've found the perfect lighting and angle before beginning their video, Gen Z content creators simply cannot wait to start recording their video - which means the first second of their video has a signature shake right at the start.
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It's a lot more easier to spot in an actual video, so take a look at the clips below if you're still unsure:
So, there you have it.
Have a browse through the 'what is the Gen Z shake' tag on TikTok and you'll find plenty more explainers, as well as self aware content creators admitting it's something they even do on purpose, which is definitely something you can't say about the dreaded millennial pause.
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The fact that zoomer creators seem able to switch doing the 'Gen Z Shake' on and off lead to viewers on several videos wondering whether or not it was a clever technique to make themselves seem more relatable to viewers.
"The Gen Z Shake comes across more authentic," user The Talent Lab stated. "Even if they're doing it on purpose.
"I just saw a video that said the shake was intentional so they seem like they just decided to grab their phone and start recording when in actuality they probably spent 30 minutes rehearsing and checking for the perfect lighting and angles," one commenter noted, while creator Gina Galeoto noted in her own video: "The GenZ Shake captures attention, conversely the millennial pause makes people want to scroll before you've even said anything."
The more you know...