Some Gen Z Want to Trade Their Day Job for TikTok
In a recent survey, members of the generation said being an influencer was a reputable career, so much so that some would pay to pursue it.
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Some Gen Z would be willing to quit their day job to become an influencer if given the opportunity.
According to a Morning Consult survey of over 2,200 U.S. adults and Gen Z aged 13 to 26 who are active social media users, nearly 60% of respondents would take a job of social media influencer over their current one, while 41% of adults would opt out of the role, the New York Post reported.
Of those Gen Z, 53% believe being an influencer is a reputable career choice and even three in 10 teens and young adults said they’d pay to become one. For those who would become influencers, 22% would post about gaming and 10% would hope to endorse beauty and skincare products. Members of the generation would be least interested in being an influencer with a focus on drinking, home design, politics and social causes, the survey found. Meanwhile most adults don’t know what they would post about but 13% would create food content and 8% would share posts on music.
Ellyn Briggs, brands analyst at Morning Consult, said TikTok makes influencing seem like a more realistic career path than ever thanks to its “no-frills, direct-to-cam and low-editing content.”
“[It’s] broadened the amount of people who feel influencing is accessible to them,” Briggs said, noting the survey results show Gen Z “believe people can easily make a career in influencing.”
Noah Johnson (he/him/his) is a Chicago-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter: @noahwritestoo.
Edited by Nykeya Woods.