In today's digital world, where every step is documented on social media, children increasingly dream of becoming influencers. This trend is not only seen in America, but is gaining momentum around the world. However, is this something parents should be afraid of or is it just a modern version of the childhood dream of becoming a famous actor or singer? Kids want to become Youtube stars!
Kids want to become Youtube stars! Social media has taken over our world and with it came the emergence of influencers – individuals who influence their masses of followers through platforms like YouTube and Instagram. It has become so popular among the youth that many kids now want to become influencers. A survey conducted by Harris Poll in collaboration with LEGO showed that 29% children between the ages of 8 and 12 want to become YouTubers, which is three times more than those who want to become astronauts1. On the other hand, some research has shown that as many as 54% Americans between the ages of 13 and 38 would become influencers if given the chance, with 12% already self-proclaimed influencers.
The world of influencers may seem appealing because success stories like Ryan Kaji, who earned $22 million in 2018, are very motivating.
Children see the bright and shiny side of this profession, which promises fame, popularity and even wealth. Influencers like Charlie D'Amelio and Kylie Jenner, have become modern heroes for young generations. But is everything as rosy as it seems at first glance?
The most important thing for parents is to stay involved and support their children while providing them with a realistic perspective. It is important that children educate about digital literacy, internet safety and social media ethics. Still, it's interesting to see how young people's career ambitions change over time, from astronauts and doctors to YouTubers and Instagram stars.
The world is changing and so are our children's dreams. As parents and carers, it's our job to understand their ambitions and support them on their journey, no matter how different it may be from our own dreams at their age.
Children want to become YouTube stars - also because some really like it!
A list of some of the underage millionaires who made their fortunes on the YouTube and TikTok platforms by making videos:
Charli and Dixie D'Amelio
Charli and Dixie D'Amelio are sisters who became famous on TikTok. Together, they earned a whopping $27.5 million in 2021, a huge jump from less than $7 million the previous year. In addition to their TikTok videos, they also have their own series on Hulu called “The D'Amelio Show”.
Addison Rae
Addison Rae is one of the biggest TikTok stars who has now started her career in Hollywood as well. She starred in the Netflix movie “He's All That” and signed a multi-film deal with the streaming platform. Addison Rae also has her own line of cosmetics called Item Beauty.
Josh Richards
Known for his TikTok videos, Josh Richards is also the co-founder of the production company CrossCheck Studios and has his own energy drink company Ani, which is sold in retail chains such as Walmart. In addition, he also co-founded a venture capital firm, Animal Capital, which raised $15 million to invest in various startup companies1.
@joshrichards its been less than a day and shes out of the brace… 😂
Bella Poarch
Bella Poarch rose to fame by posting a lip-sync video to the British rapper's song "M to B," which became the most viewed TikTok video of 2020. Bella Poarch became the third most followed person on TikTok in just one year with 87 million followers . In addition to her career on TikTok, Bella Poarch also released her first single “Build a Bitch”, which reached number 56 on the Billboard pop chart1.
Baby Ariel (Ariel Martin)
Baby Ariel, whose real name is Ariel Martin, is one of the first stars to rise to fame on TikTok when the platform was still called Musical.ly. Her net worth is 6 million dollars2.
These young influencers are an example of how video sharing platforms such as YouTube and TikTok can allow individuals to create a recognizable name and even earn large sums of money, although it should be noted that this is not easy to achieve and requires a lot of effort, time and often luck too.
@babyariel spend an evening alone with me
