DS 17, who's deluded- me or him??

He isn’t deluded, as a few do become very successful doing this. The fact he earns £50/mo isn’t a bad start. I’d support him with the warning that it’s a bit like athlete going for the Olympics…by around 25 you have to admit it’s not going to happen if it hasn’t already.

If he’s not famous by 25, then he needs a Plan B. So I’d encourage him to spend a bit of time on Plan B.

I work in digital and brand marketing and we are crying out for people like your son who have a good working knowledge of TikTok content creation. We are an agency tasked with creating content on behalf of brands we work with thst will actually gain traction on the platform, and nothing we know works on other platforms is applicable on TikTok. It’s completely alien to traditional marketeers. So, We’ve just hired 3 full time TikTok content creators, I think the oldest of them is 20 and we’re paying them £38k in the north of England as a starting salary because they’re so in demand up here. Every creative agency is scrambling for them. Not one of them has a degree and for 2 of them, this is their first actual job. Me and my £14k starting salary in 2014 are incredibly jealous obviously

He doesn’t need a digital marketing degree (in truth, no one does), just look at job ads for ‘digital content creators’, there are hundreds in almost all corners of the country. You can even search ‘TikTok content creator’ if he wants to be more specific. It will likely be a traditional 9-5 role, around which he will be actively encouraged to work on his own platform and he’ll probably learn a hell of a lot about trend analysis and performance analytics from the agency too.

Would he go to college to see what courses they have for video editing/marketing etc.

I despair of todays youth.

But if he’s good with social media, there are jobs as social media marketers and managers that he might like to get in to.

Wow! Good for him. Sounds like he's built himself a really interesting life. He's definitely got determination.

You could show him the videos of the man who sands floors. These have become very popular. It might encourage your son to find work that lends itself to such videos so could be a double win. It sounds as though your son's self confidence will stand him in good stead anyway.
PS I always remember the story about the man who had a security company selling burglar alarms called Big Brother. The company failed, but when the TV series started the now defunct website got loads of clicks - and loads of advertising, so the guy made a lot of money from advertising revenues.

As a teacher I see this from Y7 when I ask them "what are you going to be?".

You used to get the 'I'm going to be a professional footballer' answer but nowadays a lot (5 or 6 in a class) tell me they're going to be a famous TikToker.

I just remind them that all successful footballers/Tiktok/YouTube people had a good back up career until they made it, as the better the back up career, the more money you have to improve your chances of success on Tiktok/football.

@Whosaidthattt your sons attitude sucks towards his co workers. Very arrogant. But don't forget the teenage brain doesn't fully develop until early 20s.

Just keep encouraging the back up career.

I’m sure you are not alone in this OP.
Sadly, it’s a generation where some kids just do not yet understand life in the real world and even worse think people who work in it are idiots.
I hated working in a supermarket part time as a student. I absolutely loathed it. So I can understand his lack of enthusiasm.
However, if you have a hobby you love and can somehow turn it into a job then it should be encouraged. There are so many avenues in digital marketing now in terms of studying I would see what is available in the local area.
In terms of being a social media ‘star’ though if you earnings aren’t increasing, it’s probably not going to happen. I have also been a part of that world, and even the influencers you think are earning a fortune, aren’t.
It’s very competitive and grabby, the pressure to produce output is immense, too.
But the behind-the-scenes stuff is actually really interesting whether it’s the production of films, creating social media posts and reels, it’s actually great work as long as you understand you are not the star of the show.
I think the solution here is time - your DS sounds young and if you can afford to encourage him then do so as long as he keeps working. His attitude isn’t helpful but I can remember mates who were in bands who thought 9-5 workers were idiots. Most of them are accountants and solicitors now and can only look back with affection at the time they thought they were going to make it big.
It is really common to feel that, it usually passes when the young person in question wants a bit more money, for a car, for example.
That is when it’s good to step away and let him work out how to buy his own and get a slice of the real world.
You sound like a fantastic mum, so don’t lose heart.

I have a friend who made it and it was luck initially that got their big surge of followers. It's really hard work to keep it going, thinking of new content etc. They also know it won't last forever so are looking at how they can then go work for other brands using thier experience and have done some courses. They do consulting stuff which is growing. They don't look down in supermarket workers! Remind him that ordinary people are the people who follow tik tokkers.

I agree with apprentiships in a similar area. But I also think that actual content that replaces an annual salary, is very time consuming so it can be hard to hold down a full time job.

This was DSS 13 years ago.

Left school with no qualifications, got an apprenticeship on the trowel , hated it. I convinced him to go to college get his exams - all good - done well - but couldn't cope with university and dropped out. Then lay around the house working up get rich quick online schemes and online gambling. Robbing peter to pay paul.

Then one day out of the blue he says hes off to Oz back packing. We gave him a few bob and expected to see him home within the month. Sure enough we got a phone call within 72hrs saying he had been robbed and could we wire him some money.............

Nowadays he spends his life flying around the world BC, working with coffee growers in Colombia, Brazil, Cuba etc . Has a riverside penthouse in Sydney another house in Melbourne. He became a citizen about 4 years ago. He married last year in Italy to a lovely young lady who is a very prominent barrister out there

He always had big dreams of attaining the good life and he got there

Some kids do make it. Caused us a lot of strife over the years but he got there

You are enabling his entitled lazy attitude by not expecting much from him. Stop providing free board and lodging. Set him a basic requirement that he works full time whilst under your roof, and pays for his keep.

He's deluded.

Of course there are people both older and younger with him that gained popularity and are making money out of their Tiktok videos, but given the amount of content creators I'd say they are the exception. I don't even think a degree in digital marketing or excellent skills would help him much, because trends change very fast and people tend to like all kinds of stuff, you can't predict if the video is going to go viral or not.

If he likes making videos, fine. Supporting his hobby would be nice of you, you can even get him a good ring lamp or a subscription to a PRO version of the video editing software (like Clipify or similar). However, I'd make it clear to him that Tiktok videos should be treated as just that, a hobby, something that brings him joy and he likes doing. Treating it seriously would be a slippery slope: he may waste a lot of time trying to achieve something only to never get it, or his hopes may be crushed dramatically.

My DP and his business partner run a channel on a different platform, that connects to the work they do. They do make a lot of money now, but have been doing it for nearly 15 years, all content is around an actual skill set, there's 2 of them, they have daily content public and patreon as well as the actual work they do in the business too. Between them they work 18 hours a day and don't have regular days off.

He can't be half arsed about things to make money and he needs some kind of skill that people want to watch/buy/invest in.

Oh God, this old chestnut.
I have several friends who have experienced similar with their DC.
One has actually "made it" and is quite well known, (gets stopped in the street, makes a lot of money).
One is a big thing in the niche world of Pokémon.
The others have ended up with depression and I know one who committed suicide and another who had a failed attempt.

The thing that I find most concerning re your DS is his superiority complex. He despises the people who are on his level? That is not an attitude I could tolerate. Have you called him out on this?
One day he is going to wake up to the fact that he is one of the people he loathes and I expect his mental health will take a hit then.

He is young, I'd tolerate a bit of nonsense on the careers front (maybe give him another year) but make it clear that after that you expect him to put in the hours in a proper job. He would also have to lose his snotty attitude.

I agree with the other comments, encourage him to a digital marketing apprenticeship, media studies etc.

To be fair to your DS: lots of young people are convinced they will earn a lot from tiktok, singing, playing football, being an actor, a model etc etc. It's called dreams.

I have told my DS who are younger than yours that there are millions of other youngsters who want the same as you and making it is down to talent AND luck since they aren't nepo babies... I encourage them to try (when they are old enough obviously) but it will have to be on their SPARE time because they will be working/studying full time to make sure they are supporting themselves/have a plan B if they don't make it. So OP, let him have his dream on his spare time but make him work full time so he can contribute to the household/ put away some for a rainy day.

It is possible so I wouldn’t say deluded.

It is good to have dreams and the courage to pursue them.

He should do an apprenticeship in digital content and marketing or something like that.

He is young.

I wanted my DC to take a few years off to travel and explore the world, write a book, become an actor and explore his creative side. He started a medical degree just as he turned 18 (late August baby). That was his dream and goal in life.

I think your son is brave and bold and even if it doesn’t work out he has done what many wouldn’t. Really put himself out there.

I am in my fifties now and work minimal hours (semi retired) because I am writing a book, going to start a YouTube channel and blog and basically try to be more creative. Most of my friends and family say I will fail (apart from my very supportive DH and DS). I probably will but I don’t want to go to my grave not having tried.

(BTW his attitude towards his colleagues is arrogant and I would call him out on that and maybe say to him they could have been you at 17! But 17 is still young and at this age entitlement is rife).

@Blankscreen you’re right to be concerned esp if he’s given up a chance at university. No-one makes money casually trading forex - you need sub-second data feeds, proprietary algorithms or enough money to take long-term macro punts like hedge funds do.
Even the big banks have automated FX trading.
I’d encourage him to do a maths or comp science degree if his maths is up to it. That is the easiest way into banking nowadays.

He would make more money on another platform. TikTok pays very little (often next to nothing) in comparison to YouTube. A lot of people on TikTok make extra money by brand deals and sponsorships.

I would definitely try to chat to him about entering into an apprenticeship. He can do both. Hopefully his attitude changes, I would find it very frustrating.

Urgently do something to root out this attitude, both to his colleagues and towards his notion of providing for himself via TikTok. Do not encourage this stupidity by allowing him to 'experiment'. Speak to behaviourist professionals or suchlike, but don't let it fester.

This sounds like dss (20) except he has fallen down the rabbit hole of wanting to be a self employed self taught Forex trader.

He's very secretive but after having some initial success he has now lost it all. He has also put in more money to save his account.

He's rejected his place at uni and after being read the riot act by DH is now working in McDonald for 40hrs a week.

He owes last month's rent (the 40 hrs only started 2 weeks ago) and I doubt he'll be able to pay next month's either. He pities the people who work there but can't see the irony that he's one of them

I actually despair + one of our friends has offered to try and get him and interview for a job in the city (trading) but DSS isn't interested in working for anyone else. He doesn't want to get caught up in the matrix.

I wonder how the hell he will ever move out.

Earning or learning is what we said to DD.

I don’t think you need to do anything about his tiktok dream. Just tell him that he either has to work and pay room and board (set it at about 50-75% of market rate to make it less attractive for him to move out) or be in education/get an apprenticeship. Give him 2-3 months notice that this is happening.

Then he can do his TikTok videos in his spare time like most people have to fit their passions and hobbies around earning a living. That’s never a bad thing to learn.

He’s not even 18 and probably maturing more slowly because he isn’t surrounded by teens all day.
I would tell him that from 18, he’ll need to pay X to you for board and food unless he’s in education, assuming you don’t need it beforehand. I’d help him research some social media courses as it is a skill that is needed nowadays but he’ll need solid English for it and may need to work towards that.
If he’s into fitness I’d encourage that as the SM/fitness overlap is high.

His attitude towards colleagues working hard isn’t nice though and I’d not allow that in earshot.

Is he paying board? As long as he's contributing to your household it's upto him. I would encourage an apprenticeship though.

He's still young I'd give him a couple years before asking him if this is feasible long term