Theory Why do so many zoomers constantly speak in a monotone voice?

[Ryo_Hazuki]

As many of you know, most of my coworkers are gen z. A lot of them constantly speak in this flat, monotone voice. Especially the male zoomers, though some of the women do it as well. This is something I've noticed for many years now with young people, but it's something that's getting more and more common. The question is, why?

Is it because they're so socially stunted they genuinely don't know how to express themselves?

Or is it performative? Like they're trying to larp like they're some fictional "sigma" like Patrick Bateman or Ayanokoji. Or they're trying to come off as stoic and "unbothered" by everything?

I'd argue it's a bit of both. Gen z really lacks basic social/communication skills, but i strongly suspect that tik tok make them think a perpetual flat affect is cool. Then again it's possible that because they grew up being terminally online and spent their youth consuming tik tok slop as opposed to hanging out with friends, this is all they know, so it's not performative in the sense that there's no conscious effort to talk this way.

Most of you are zoomers so many you guys have some better insights. As a middle aged man, I'm on the outside looking in. But this is just one more gen z idiosyncrasy that makes being around them and interacting with them like being around a completely foreign culture.

 

[grimlockcel]

Maybe they are trying to be nonchalant I dont know.

 

[La Longue Fourchett]

It's gotta be the sheer lack of in-person interaction during their formative years.
I'm on the older side of millennial but almost all my peers and younger cant talk on phone because they grew up texting.

It's gonna be interesting what type of "mental illnesses" and societal problem crop up as these younger generations grow up.

 

[ToBurble&Pine]

drugs

 

[autisticsoy]

Autism maybe there seems to be a rise of it

 

[BricABrac]

I think it's mostly self repression combined with a frank inability to express themselves. They were not taught how to, they watch short form content with AI voiceovers. It's a "language" that they've learned, but it's more than that too. They don't drink, not like cheap ass booze doesn't exist they just have nothing to experience that a buzz elevates.

 

[killedmycel]

Social media has made them painfully aware of how scrutinized they are, it is the complete opposite of the “give no fucks” type culture that the Boomers had.

 

[anon65]

A combination of many factors, some you listed. Also we will never be able to own a house or retire. It would be an absolute miracle of god if I could ever have either. So, depression.

 

[Caichan]

I’ve never noticed this. I think I’ve seen the opposite

 

[The Scarlet Prince]

You know, I've never actually bothered to notice it myself, but you could be right? I rarely get to verbally speak with zoomers (or I suppose anyone for that matter), but on the rare occasion that I do, they do sound fairly bereft of emotion. I, however, never particularity paid attention to their voice being something of note. Instead, I subconsciously thought of it as a symptom of their NPCdom—or at least, that which I regularly attribute to them.

That is to say, I literally don't believe that they can experience emotion in any way other than in some 'vague,' shallow manner—they are only vaguely excited, they are only vaguely happy, they are only vaguely upset, they are only vaguely interested, and so on. It's almost as if they aren't entirely mentally present to begin with...

I've been written off as weird by a pretty large handful of people for expressing emotion to the extent that I do... at least, online. Since one has been confined to his room for so long, I don't get to interact with people outside as much as I'd like to, so I haven't actually had deep enough interactions to know how I'd be judged by others in-person. I can't imagine it would differ much, if at all, though—judging purely from the stories I've heard from my friend.

 

[The Scarlet Prince]

Maybe they are trying to be nonchalant I dont know.

Also this—I think there has always been this kind of expectation that you're supposed to be 'chill' and 'non-chalant' about things. It's considered cool.

 

[The Scarlet Prince]

They don't drink

There are plenty of zoomers that take drugs recreationally, though.

 

[BlackPilledNormi]

No reason to give any further expression if you just want to transport a message, the same reason why I use next to no emojis when Im textin, if I have to speak with my supervisor who is a boomer par excellence Im always super annoyed when he starts to raise his voice to say smth he could also say with this exact monotonous voice
I gues its also because genZ isnt polite enough to lie other people in their face to pretend to care about a thing

 

[GrokGhoul]

drugs

I did drugs daily from quarantine till 2024 and My brain is fried I don't know how else to talk tbh

 

[Dead End]

I don't mind monotonous voices when the other person genuinely lacks enthusiasm. It's vastly preferable to boomers and gen X who feign emotionality towards everything. I'd rather know that someone is disinterested rather than them attempting to act as though they are engaged.

I see so many middle aged/old people interact daily, and their constant exaggerated tones and responses during mundane encounters annoy me, as it's so clearly performative: "Wow! You went for a swim on the weekend? That's so interesting! How was the water?" etc.

 

[VersoffenerAssi]

I'd say their brains are fried from constant smartphone use and social media. They're like zombies. It might also be partly due to all the garbage they eat and the "vitamins from above" (chemtrails). However, I'm also in my late thirties and can only speculate.

 

[weaselbomber]

us zoomers just are particularly miserable, even the normies
growing up in a world with 0 opportunities does that

 

[SilverBullet]

You work in fast food, right? Do you expect them to sound energetic and happy? Though, I have heard some Gen Z with that dead, monotonous voice. I wouldn't directly say it's lack of social skills. Rather that's just a symptom of them being miserable and depressed from constant phone usage.

 

[no love found]

Gen Z is the most sped inept fucked up generation.

 

[FuckYou]

Honestly I haven’t noticed this in my experience.

 

[Ryo_Hazuki]

There are plenty of zoomers that take drugs recreationally, though.

Yeah zoomers are less likely to drink alcohol because it's a social substance and they're hyperintroverted.

But they're more likely to use substances that are typically done alone like kratom, opioids benzos, etc...which are probably a lot more neurotoxic than alcohol. So this could be a contributing factor.

 

[Dead End]

Yeah zoomers are less likely to drink alcohol because it's a social substance and they're hyperintroverted.

Why have you come to the conclusion that zoomers are "hyperintroverted"? Throughout school and work, my peers and coworkers have generally been quite social, constantly talking to each other for the most part. Children around me frequently ride their E-bikes around in groups of friends. Young customers at my workplace typically come in with a few friends. What behaviours do you see that causes you to deem zoomers extreme introverts?

Perhaps I just lack the same baseline as you do for what I consider "introverted".

 

[Ryo_Hazuki]

Why have you come to the conclusion that zoomers are "hyperintroverted"?

Observation as well as statistics. Most of my coworkers are terminally online and socially stunted. Their lives are just work, class, gym, and internet.

There's a lack of "third spaces" that were common a few decades ago.

Gen z doesn't even has an aversion to talking on the phone because it gives them "anxiety" or the think it's "weird" and prefer texting.

Look at how much extroversion has tanked in the past 8 years.

And here's another study:

 

[Emba]

NPC

 

[Excalibur]

Most unsocialized generation in history.

 

[undesiredsamsung]

drugs and being chronically online plus 0 communities

 

[Failed Pullout]

Us zoomers have a lot of souless golems in our generation.

 

[Spooky_Heejin]

To try and sound cool and masculine.

 

[TooSomething]

No idea, but why "were" you into futanari and new half hentai?

 

[gloom&doom]

They're autistic or trying to be autistic ("nonchalant")

 

[superpsycho]

Us zoomers have a lot of souless golems in our generation.

 

[160cmbloop]

they’re just low t trying to imitate a voice with deep resonance you’d get naturally if enough testosterone produced enough for them during their development years to thicken their vocal cords

To try and sound cool and masculine.

View attachment 1660417

good example lmao

 

[Vulcan's Forge]

Most unsocialized generation in history.

this has to be an american centric take right? zoomers in my shithole are just as social as previous gens, even late zoomers and the gen alphas are always out, im the only rotter i know

 

[Rapistcel]

As many of you know, most of my coworkers are gen z. A lot of them constantly speak in this flat, monotone voice. Especially the male zoomers, though some of the women do it as well. This is something I've noticed for many years now with young people, but it's something that's getting more and more common. The question is, why?

Is it because they're so socially stunted they genuinely don't know how to express themselves?

Or is it performative? Like they're trying to larp like they're some fictional "sigma" like Patrick Bateman or Ayanokoji. Or they're trying to come off as stoic and "unbothered" by everything?

I'd argue it's a bit of both. Gen z really lacks basic social/communication skills, but i strongly suspect that tik tok make them think a perpetual flat affect is cool. Then again it's possible that because they grew up being terminally online and spent their youth consuming tik tok slop as opposed to hanging out with friends, this is all they know, so it's not performative in the sense that there's no conscious effort to talk this way.

Most of you are zoomers so many you guys have some better insights. As a middle aged man, I'm on the outside looking in. But this is just one more gen z idiosyncrasy that makes being around them and interacting with them like being around a completely foreign culture.

Because they don't talk to anyone, they are constantly watching tiktok.

 

[DoomThreeKoala]

I dunno. I reckon it's because of TikTok and whatever. It's not autism (I am diagnosed autistic and I don't do this).

 

[Senzatetto]

They are trying to talk like the LookoutfaCharlie audio analysis V2K TTS chatbots.

 

[nystagmuscel]

Autism maybe there seems to be a rise of it

 

[BricABrac]

new half hentai?

What the fuck even is that

 

[bronxpete]

I suffer from this issue, its hard to express emotion and variety when speaking because generally speaking is exhausting

 

[H8mychudlife]

I’ve never noticed this. I think I’ve seen the opposite

I can corroborate this

 

[CADcel]

As many of you know, most of my coworkers are gen z. A lot of them constantly speak in this flat, monotone voice. Especially the male zoomers, though some of the women do it as well. This is something I've noticed for many years now with young people, but it's something that's getting more and more common. The question is, why?

Is it because they're so socially stunted they genuinely don't know how to express themselves?

Or is it performative? Like they're trying to larp like they're some fictional "sigma" like Patrick Bateman or Ayanokoji. Or they're trying to come off as stoic and "unbothered" by everything?

I'd argue it's a bit of both. Gen z really lacks basic social/communication skills, but i strongly suspect that tik tok make them think a perpetual flat affect is cool. Then again it's possible that because they grew up being terminally online and spent their youth consuming tik tok slop as opposed to hanging out with friends, this is all they know, so it's not performative in the sense that there's no conscious effort to talk this way.

Most of you are zoomers so many you guys have some better insights. As a middle aged man, I'm on the outside looking in. But this is just one more gen z idiosyncrasy that makes being around them and interacting with them like being around a completely foreign culture.

as i am a gen z i mainly think its because of how stunted some people are socially up until this year my friend couldnt order food at a restaurant out of fear, i know more people who are the same as well

 

[Chirag gupta]

I talk like this, and it’s really just because I have barely talked to anyone since I was 12 when I dropped out of school.

 

[TooSomething]

What the fuck even is that

Ask @Ryo_Hazuki not me. kek

 

[DeformedDysgenicCel]

I'm a zoomer. It might be because they are too much introverted, or that they lack the spirit to do these social things, like interacting with others or something like this.

 

[sirlancelot]

No idea, but why "were" you into futanari and new half hentai?

View attachment 1660418

Its amazing that thread was up as long as it was

 

[Sonicfancel]

I’ve never noticed this. I think I’ve seen the opposite

Yeah, i never notice it too.

 

[Sorll_]

As many of you know, most of my coworkers are gen z. A lot of them constantly speak in this flat, monotone voice. Especially the male zoomers, though some of the women do it as well. This is something I've noticed for many years now with young people, but it's something that's getting more and more common. The question is, why?

Is it because they're so socially stunted they genuinely don't know how to express themselves?

Or is it performative? Like they're trying to larp like they're some fictional "sigma" like Patrick Bateman or Ayanokoji. Or they're trying to come off as stoic and "unbothered" by everything?

I'd argue it's a bit of both. Gen z really lacks basic social/communication skills, but i strongly suspect that tik tok make them think a perpetual flat affect is cool. Then again it's possible that because they grew up being terminally online and spent their youth consuming tik tok slop as opposed to hanging out with friends, this is all they know, so it's not performative in the sense that there's no conscious effort to talk this way.

Most of you are zoomers so many you guys have some better insights. As a middle aged man, I'm on the outside looking in. But this is just one more gen z idiosyncrasy that makes being around them and interacting with them like being around a completely foreign culture.

I'd say this is pretty generalizing. You're taking a few interactions you had in specific context and using it as a representation of an entire generation of people. There could be a number of reasons as to why those people in those specific instances were talking the way they were. All you can really do is just think of all the possibilities as to why and not assert one as the right one as there might not be enough evidence to rule out all of the other possibilities that could make you come to one solid conclusion or there are a combination of reasons and not just one. After all a whole generation is quite broad so the reasons they spoke in that tone in those instances aren't going to be the same for each of them.

 

[Sorll_]

Observation as well as statistics. Most of my coworkers are terminally online and socially stunted. Their lives are just work, class, gym, and internet.

There's a lack of "third spaces" that were common a few decades ago.

Gen z doesn't even has an aversion to talking on the phone because it gives them "anxiety" or the think it's "weird" and prefer texting.

View attachment 1660339


Look at how much extroversion has tanked in the past 8 years.

And here's another study:

View attachment 1660340

These studies you show are also likely not reliable as they take small sample sizes from specific locations to make a statement that is supposed to represent these generations as a whole when it clearly isn't all of them being accounted for.

 

[Ryo_Hazuki]

I'd say this is pretty generalizing. You're taking a few interactions you had in specific context and using it as a representation of an entire generation of people. There could be a number of reasons as to why those people in those specific instances were talking the way they were. All you can really do is just think of all the possibilities as to why and not assert one as the right one as there might not be enough evidence to rule out all of the other possibilities that could make you come to one solid conclusion or there are a combination of reasons and not just one. After all a whole generation is quite broad so the reasons they spoke in that tone in those instances aren't going to be the same for each of them.

These studies you show are also likely not reliable as they take small sample sizes from specific locations to make a statement that is supposed to represent these generations as a whole when it clearly isn't all of them being accounted for.

>"NOOOO you can't make a generalization about a group based on a pattern you've noticed from your own observations and interactions with that group!"
>Also you can't come to a conclusion about a group based off of multiple studies that come to the same conclusion because....YOU JUST CAN'T, OKAY!?

 

[RearrangeYourFace]

Lack of face to face social interaction, hyper engaged in constant artificial human imagery/sounds homogenized due to coming from a tiny speaker & screen