I saw a stat that something like 60% of middle schoolers want to grow up to be an influencer. I'm sure 30-40 years ago for many of us, that was something like "play in the NBA" or "be Jacques Cousteau". I really try not to judge the kidz, but just being famous and selling people stuff seems boring and borderline awful.
A few years ago I was talking with a sophomore girl that played in the HS volleyball program I help run and the topic of careers came up. She said she wanted to live at the Playboy Mansion like the women from The Girls Next Door.
I struggled to not immediately criticize that.
She then said that if she couldnt live there as her job, she wanted to be an influencer.
I struggled to not immediately criticize that.
To your professional athlete comment- I do think there is a huge difference between someone hoping to play in the NBA and someone hoping to be a social media influencer. I am not saying one is more legitimate or realistic or anything...just that they seem very different. I think it may be the fact that so many 'influencers' dont seem good at what they do or convincing, while an NBA player is objectively great at what they do.
But maybe the comparison really isnt too far off.