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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about future generations…

92 replies

Nothingventurednothinggained · 27/12/2021 16:41

Scrolling through Instagram I always come across plenty of ‘influencers’. They don’t seem to do anything worthwhile. It’s just constant selfies, throwaway cheap clothes adverts, flaunting expensive designer clothes/trainers/handbags.
I am starting to get really worried about my childrens futures. So many young people now want to be ‘influencers’ and don’t have any real work ethic.
Obviously, I will be trying my damned hardest to ensure my kids do well at school and know that they will need to work hard to get nice things (if that’s what they want).
It seems a lot of young people think this influencer lifestyle is sustainable (maybe for some, but that will be a minority).
Does anyone else worry about this?

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 27/12/2021 16:44

Young people aren't daft.
They know these people are the exception not the rule.
I used to dream about my life being like the set of Fame but I knew it wasn't likely!

TinySaltLick · 27/12/2021 16:47

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Georgeskitchen · 27/12/2021 16:48

YANBU I'm on the generation now. Kids grown up but worry about my grandchildren and the way things seem to be heading

MirthlessChuckle · 27/12/2021 16:49

I mean, financial ramifications of the pandemic and climate change generally both worry me for the future generations.

Kids wanting to be superstars, famous singers or actors, etc and to live without having to work hard - that's always happened hasn't it?

Original poster
Nothingventurednothinggained · 27/12/2021 16:49

@TinySaltLick
How about contributing instead of trolling? Hmm

OP posts:
Ylvamoon · 27/12/2021 16:51

There has always been the "haves" and "not haves". I am sure future generations just like past generations will be able to handle it!

Original poster
Nothingventurednothinggained · 27/12/2021 16:51

@MirthlessChuckle
Totally get your point. But Instagram is fairly new. These influencers aren’t famous, but appear to do really well. So young people will perhaps think it’s ‘easier’ to go down that route.

OP posts:
daimbarsatemydogsbone · 27/12/2021 16:51

YANBU to worry I suppose but YABVU if you are telling them "they will need to work hard to get nice things".

If that was true my postwoman would be driving a fancy car.

TinySaltLick · 27/12/2021 16:52

On a serious note, any successful influencer likely spends a lot of their time on it - I don't think you cam fairly claim they don't have work ethic, it is probably quite exhausting constantly having to craft and present a specific lifestyle

I'm not trying to claim it isn't pretty vacuous and in many cases without any real value to society, but it's just the modern incarnation of being a celebrity

Is it any worse than simply ingesting content from influencers?

Thesearmsofmine · 27/12/2021 16:53

Influencers are just what used to be called ‘It girls’ and I am sure before them there were others. It is more accessible now due to social media.

TheOriginalEmu · 27/12/2021 16:53

I know lots and lots of young people and none of them want to be influencers. My kids are 20, 18, 17 and 15 and they have ambitions that are normal.

itsjustnotok · 27/12/2021 16:55

I worry but probably for different reasons. In 6 months DD (12) has told me she’s bisexual, lesbian, omni sexual, transgender and gender fluid. She said she has to try otherwise she hates all said groups. I have found her crying because her friend wants to be referred to as they/them alone but she/her in front of teachers and parents and she has use the tempting pronoun in front of adults. On top of this though we have had several 18 year olds accept jobs who don’t think they need to turn up on time, conform to uniform regulations or do any task they have been set. We have even had their parents call to let us know that they shouldn’t be made to do anything they aren’t comfortable with. I’ve never know anything like it, if it was a one off I would say it’s just the individual but this is a regular issue. Parents seem to be ruining their kids making excuses. These will be the ones in charge of us and it does worry me.

Original poster
Nothingventurednothinggained · 27/12/2021 16:55

@daimbarsatemydogsbone
It is all relative though isn’t it. Maybe your postman doesn’t want a fancy car. Maybe their interpretation of ‘nice things’ are different than yours.
I will always encourage my children to work hard to get by in life.

OP posts:
NoBetterthanSheShouldBe · 27/12/2021 16:55

It’s always been the same, kids used to want to be models, page 3 girls, popstars, footballers.

It doesn’t take long for most to find out they don’t have what it takes, and I don’t suppose it takes long to find out that your social media posts aren’t getting much attention.

Comedycook · 27/12/2021 16:55

My dds school class did a thing where they all held up signs saying what they wanted to be when they were older... virtually all of the boys said youtuber/gamer.

TinySaltLick · 27/12/2021 16:57

[quote Nothingventurednothinggained]@MirthlessChuckle
Totally get your point. But Instagram is fairly new. These influencers aren’t famous, but appear to do really well. So young people will perhaps think it’s ‘easier’ to go down that route.[/quote]
It has existed for over a decade - that isn't really new in the scheme of things. Social media has completely changed the way people interact and consume media - traditional formats such as linear TV, print etc have been turned upside down in that regard. You say these people are not famous - but how is that measured? Is have 100s of thousands of followers not the modern incarnation of fame?

My 'gran' comment above was highlighting that claiming influencer is not a career option is a dated view - this is the world we live in now and rejecting this because it is new and different is out of touch

Original poster
Nothingventurednothinggained · 27/12/2021 16:57

@itsjustnotok
I have this issue with staffing in my area. Although many are much older than 18. They don’t think there is a problem with being late every day. And will point blank refuse tasks.

OP posts:
TheLeadbetterLife · 27/12/2021 16:58

When I was a kid I wanted to be an air hostess, because it seemed exciting and glamorous. My nephew once told me he’d like to be a YouTuber or a hunter. It’s completely normal to have these fancies when you’re young.

kokokokokokokokoko · 27/12/2021 17:01

every generation has worried about the next. I think it's a bit naiive to assume that the majority aspire to or expect this kind of lifestyle.

Doesntfeellikexmas · 27/12/2021 17:01

I know several fitness/health influences who make a good amount of money. At least the equivilant to a decent full time job.

One earns a hell of alot. TV appearance, books etc.

Despite being around those people since she was little, dd is still going to uni to do law and doesn't bother with social media that much.

Only a few make it to the top. That's the same in a career. Not everyone can be the MD or the Top Lawyer. Or the top surgeon.

Both my kids went through a 'ohh I want to be a youtuber' but dd (17) has just been offered 4 places at uni and ds (almost 11) has decided he wants to work in IT.

You are worrying too much.

I wanted to be a supermodel. I am a director in a large company. Still successful, but got more realistic in my mid teens.0

Original poster
Nothingventurednothinggained · 27/12/2021 17:02

@TinySaltLick
Instagram may have been around for over a decade, the influencing side is fairly new.
I am sorry that I don’t agree with you and you feel the need to insult me.
I really don’t think that being an influencer is a career option.

OP posts:
Comedycook · 27/12/2021 17:02

I wanted to be one of the women who held up the prizes on gameshows...sadly it wasn't to be Grin

Original poster
Nothingventurednothinggained · 27/12/2021 17:05

@Comedycook
That’s brilliant! Like someone previous said, each generation worries about the next.

OP posts:
wallypopz · 27/12/2021 17:06

I think the youth should be more concerned about the ageing population issues & the Covid tax burden.

TinySaltLick · 27/12/2021 17:07

[quote Nothingventurednothinggained]@TinySaltLick
Instagram may have been around for over a decade, the influencing side is fairly new.
I am sorry that I don’t agree with you and you feel the need to insult me.
I really don’t think that being an influencer is a career option.[/quote]
You've already acknowledged in your opening post that for some it can be sustainable - so how can you then claim to reject it is a career?

You may not like / understand the economics of the model, but you can't claim it doesn't exist when there is empirical evidence to the contrary at your finger tips.

You asked for a contribution to the debate and then when it counters your point refuse to acknowledge it!

The times they are a changin, embrace it or become irrelevant as father time keeps on turning