Sometimes I wonder what would happen if social media jobs suddenly became demonetized. What would influencers do?
Honestly, I think the worst part would be the parents who have built their entire income and identity around having children for content and clout.
I feel bad for kids who never chose to be born into this dynamic, especially those growing up with cameras pointed at them, their lives constantly documented, and their childhoods turned into content. They deserve the chance to grow up, discover who they are, form their own opinions, and make their own choices without being pressured to fit whatever is trending.
And before anyone argues that trends have always existed, I agree! We had popular toys, fashionable clothes, and the “cool kids” long before social media. But there was a difference. Kids still had room to experience things privately, interact with each other, develop emotional intelligence, and figure out who they were away from a camera and an audience.
Now, it sometimes feels like we’re raising a generation that is performing childhood rather than actually experiencing it. Between iPads, family vlogging, and parents setting up cameras to capture supposedly “candid” moments, I wonder how much genuine joy and freedom we’re taking away from children.
Maybe I’m overthinking this, but I genuinely believe people need to touch grass, disconnect from their screens, and build skills and careers that exist beyond the internet.
Because what happens if social media platforms stop paying creators? What if the influencer economy collapses? What if we experience a major economic downturn or the stock market crashes? At the end of the day, having practical skills, real-world experience, and the ability to do something useful outside the digital world will still matter.
My question is: am I seeing a genuine problem that society is sleepwalking into, or am I just an overthinking machine?
I’d genuinely like to hear other people’s perspectives on this.