What to Do If Your Kid Wants to Be an Influencer
Does your child dream of becoming the next big sensation on YouTube, TikTok or Twitch? They’re not alone. Being an influencer was the top dream job for teens ages 13-17, according to a survey conducted by YouGov. Professional streamer ranked No. 1 for boys and No. 5 for girls.
While this might seem like a far-fetched idea to adults, recent polls show over half of Gen Zers see being a streamer as a legitimate career and would pursue it as a full-time job if they could make a living from it. About 30% said they would even be willing to pay to become a professional streamer.
But being a social-media streamer isn’t as easy as it seems.
Influencers and Income
Making a living from online videos can be challenging. Of all the people who post videos, only a fraction make money, and about half of those make less than $15,000 per year. One social-media creator had over 400,000 followers and his videos got about 100,000 views each, but he made less than $58,084 in 2023, which was the median salary for a full-time worker in the U.S. at the time.
Based on how much money some platforms pay influencers per video view, one company estimated that it would take about 1 million views for a creator to earn $5,000. But even that isn’t guaranteed, as one creator reported earning only $120 for a video with over 10 million views. Plus, freelance income doesn’t cover traditional, full-time job benefits such as health care, paid time off or retirement plans with matching contributions.
Although revenue can include other streams such as affiliate links, merchandise and brand ads, those are not guaranteed. With today’s high housing costs and inflation rates, fluctuating and unreliable income are a real concern. Having an inconsistent income can make it hard to qualify for a lease or secure a loan.
“Most creators are denied access because they don’t have paystubs or W2s, or because their income is just too unpredictable for traditional institutions with very little appetite for risk,” James Jones, founder and CEO of creator-focused wealthTech and financing platform Bump, said in an interview with PYMNTS.
Hobby vs. Career
Why does your child want to be a streamer? If they’re curious about making videos, but don’t seem interested in making money from them, it might be a fun hobby to explore.
A poll by First Choice found that money is not the main motivator for teens. The top three priorities ranked in order were being creative, being famous and self-expression.
If your child wants to be more creative or express themselves, streaming can tap into those interests. Plus, it can help build other skills that will be useful in school and their adult lives. For example, people skills are a must to be natural on screen, but technology and math skills are also useful. Developing a plan for making and releasing videos requires strategic thinking, organizational and time management skills.
As with any hobby, your child might want to invest in extra gear such as a ring light, tripod or green screen or other backdrop.
Considering Other Options
Research has indicated that the instability of the job market during the pandemic inspired young adults to be more entrepreneurial. Young people like the idea of being in control of their work, which is another reason being a YouTuber or TikToker might be appealing.
If you’re concerned about your child’s interest in becoming an influencer, talk to them about it. We have a helpful article just for teens that details what it takes to be an influencer. You can encourage them to explore other careers that might be a great fit for them based on their priorities and interests.
Don’t discourage your child from pursuing a career that interests them, but make sure they understand the pitfalls. And if it’s a matter of not knowing what else is out there, check out our Explore Careers section for inspiration. We showcase over 200 jobs in various industries, including jobs that are in high demand in Kansas.
