It seems more and more people these days have a side hustle—even teenagers. Especially teenagers, maybe.
New data has revealed that 2 in 5 teenagers are actively making money online in the US.
Additionally, a growing number of 12- to 18-year-olds are earning more money through digital channels than through traditional employment in 2024.
So are the days of babysitting, ice cream shop swirls and lemonade stands gone? No, but making money online is easier than ever, inspiring many young people to start their first business ventures in the digital realm instead of IRL.
“In the past, you had to find a place to sell a product, create a payment platform, network and create a community of potential customers before you could even think about launching your business,” said Cameron Zoub, co-founder and chief growth officer at Whop in Brooklyn, an online business platform that has conducted research on demographics. “Now, all you need is a phone and an internet connection.”
According to Whop’s survey, the most popular ways teens make money online include selling clothes, shoes or clothing accessories, streaming video games to earn in-game currency and video game tournament prizes, product reviews, sponsorships of the brand through social media accounts and drop-shipping (buying and selling products).
Zoub is not surprised that these are popular ways for teenagers to make money.
“They’ve had the advantage of growing up with the Internet and seeing those areas take off,” he said. “These teenagers see other successful young entrepreneurs making money online and want to be a part of that too.”
Tinus Klauser, an 18-year-old TikTok creator based in Germany, recently expanded his operations.
“I started selling on Whop around November 2023 because, in addition to the TikTok pages I run, I wanted to build another reliable source of income,” he said.
Klauser now earns $25,000 to $50,000 a month just by teaching others how to make money and go viral on TikTok. “It’s a great way for me to create a steady income doing what I’m passionate about: helping people,” he said. “We live in a world where anyone can be an online entrepreneur.”
Lily Bond, founder of Spyce Girlz in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, attended. She started a spice company at age 13, making the low six figures every year during her teenage years.
“I started my business because I was trying to buy a laptop for high school,” said Bond, now 21. “Now I could buy it myself instead of asking my parents to help me, and I was able to raise the funds myself from an idea that came into my head.”
Learning how to be financially literate and responsible at age 13 was a very empowering experience, Bond said. “Making my own money at such a young age was one of the most incredible lessons I’ve ever learned,” she said.
Here’s how other newbies can pave their own virtual paths and make money in the digital age.
So what makes you happy
Whatever path you take online should be something that lights you up inside.
“Find something you like, see what others are doing, and learn a practical skill related to that field,” said Dr. Rebecca Mannis, Ph.D., founder of the Ivy Prep Learning Center.
Zoub notes that it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to copy what other people are doing or think you need the next great big idea, but you can’t fake passion.
Become financially literate
“While earning an income is exciting, teens need to learn how to develop good financial habits early on, including budgeting, saving and even basic investing principles,” said Lauren Mastroni, career expert and content writer at Resume Genius. (If profits are substantial, you may need to involve an accountant.)
Keep track
Being in the online space means there’s a lot of detail to keep track of, “which really puts a strain on our working memory,” so Mannis recommended finding a system to track key information and tasks, whether using the Evernote app, Post-its or even voice memes.
“Just as financial success comes from big priorities and budgeting, so does staying on top of the details with strong executive functions,” she said.
Consider the lesson
Whether you play the cello or chess, there’s probably an online market for your talents. Ditto for math chapters and bilingual gurus.
“Start by signing up for platforms like VIPKid for English lessons, or Chegg Tutors for a wide variety of other subjects,” Mastroni said. “These platforms allow you to create a profile where you can highlight your academic achievements and any teaching or volunteering experience you have.”
Invest in a good headset and webcam and learn how to use interactive tools like Zoom or Miro’s whiteboard feature for collaborative learning. “Don’t forget to ask your students for reviews to build your reputation,” she added.
Have a strategy
Zoub stressed the importance of getting involved in as many online communities as possible and getting guidance from people already active in that space.
“You will learn much more from those who operate in a particular world than from any textbook,” he said.
Get followers
Mastroni shared that another route you can take is to create a separate Instagram account and set your goals to reach 10,000 followers, which opens up opportunities for brand partnerships and sponsored content.
“Start by choosing a specific focus that matches your interests and expertise, such as vegan recipes, minimalist lifestyle or urban photography,” she said.
Engage with your audience and similar accounts to grow your following, and use relevant hashtags “to increase the visibility of your content and reach a wider audience,” she said.
Conclusion: “When you’re building your business, build in public. Excite viewers about what you’re doing and make them feel like they’re a part of what you’re building,” he said.
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