Generation Alpha dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Just like any other generation. However there is one new career in the mix: content creator.
But is it already too late to become one? Has every niche idea been showcased to the world?
A content creator is simply someone who produces content. Influencers also fall into this category, creating content but not all content creators need to be influencers.
This can be done in the form of almost anything; articles, videos, audio, or graphics. Nowadays the term usually refers to online content. Content creation has blown up over the past decade as a career across multiple platforms including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and even through podcasting, making it more accessible than ever.
Because of its accessibility many individuals, especially young people, take it on as a potential career and hobby. But like any job, content creation is not for everyone. Some may not have the personality, editing skills, or niche quality to separate themselves from the rest. The harsh reality of this is starting to settle in as everyday people post draft after draft, hoping one day their moment will come.
But with so many sides of TikTok, it seems like there should be a category for everyone.
There is CleanTok where people clean their own homes, a lot of the time with ASMR and on the other hand people test out cleaning products. BookTok is another popular online section where people share their favorite books, journaling their book tracker, and giving reviews. SustainabliltyTok has people sharing sustainable tips, their favorite sustainable products, and how to save money while being sustainable. There are a multitude of other avenues including MoneyTok, CookTok, DanceTok, they truly have everything. Yet many people still struggle.
Alix Earle rose to TikTok fame for her “Get Ready With Me” videos. At the time she was attending the University of Miami and people loved watching her life unfold there. Of course it didn’t hurt that she was beautiful and showing off her style along with personal updates. But what really drew people in was her authenticity. She was honest with the internet about her nights out, boob job, and acne, acting as a best friend to all. This not so glamorous content still landed her millions of likes and views, attracting people to her making it easy to produce content because all she had to do was be herself.
People often assume they can fit into a category and run to the creator fund. And sometimes it works! All these different sides of TikTok exist because there are so many people showing off their lives and talents. These different types of content creation exist on almost every platform. Different Instagram accounts are created every day going viral for all different reasons. YouTube is a platform used for meditation, how-to videos, advice, vlogs, education, and so much more. With all these platforms and so many choices it’s easy to get caught up in the fantasy of it all.
Many also get caught in the fantasy of being famous across multiple platforms. After establishing one, people assume it’s easy to jump to the next. Alix Earle went completely viral off TikTok and made a living out of it. To keep the money flowing she went to a different platform, podcasting but her luck wasn’t the same. Her podcast Hot Mess features the life of Alix, specifically advertised as a relationship podcast. According to ENews, her podcast was recently dropped by Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network. After this announcement Alix made one of her own in a TikTok video saying “I have to put a pause on podcasting right now for the foreseeable future.” Alix has decided to switch over to YouTube. Alix succeeded on TikTok, but proved content creations is not a linear line to overall success.
However, it can be done! Emma Chamberlin, once famous on YouTube, is currently producing the podcast Anything Goes. The podcast started in February of 2020 and is still making new episodes with insightful and motivating content.
Sure, if you already have a platform, it may be possible to successfully create content across another platform, but is it possible to start from scratch this late in the game?
The new generation of TikTokers would argue no, it’s not too late. Katie Fang, Lisi Shops, Lauren Kim are defining this new generation. With the clean girl aesthetic, pr unboxing, and get ready with me videos. But with the constant shopping and hauls these girls do, not everyone can participate.
Lucky for other creators they don’t have to. There are always new trends being started and new sides of TikTok opening up. The newest side of TikTok is Project Pan: 2025.
There are always new trends coming onto TikTok making it possible for new accounts to be born.
Any type of content can be posted anywhere. But the people with successful platforms all have something in common: personality. Whether it’s in the way they edit, the jokes they made in their voiceover, the content they post, or energy they radiate. People find them entertaining to watch.
With our changing world, it’s never too late to try something new as a career even if it is content creation. But there is a certain formula to follow to catch the eye of the algorithm which prevents them from the success (measured by views) they dream of.