Alongside neighborhood lemonade stands and lifeguarding gigs, millions of teenagers will be earning their pocket money online this summer. And Gen Alpha is shaping up to be one of the most entrepreneurial generations in the digital era as the internet redraws the boundaries of work.
Around 22 million teenagers, aged 13 to 17, earn money through part-time, informal, or digital work, according to a recent whitepaper from Cash App, owned by fintech company Block.
And the ways many are earning digitally are a bit more unconventional than selling stickers on Etsy or tutoring over Zoom. Around 10% of teens earn through livestreaming their video games, 16% by online reselling, and 10% via in-game platforms like Roblox.
The study notes that the youngest generation of workers are capitalizing on their hobbies, and setting themselves up to be “modern earners” by managing multiple streams of income.
“For many [teenagers], their first income experience is non-traditional, entering the economy years before formal employment through activities that previous generations considered purely recreational,” the white paper notes.
The traditional model—one employer, one paycheck—is a ‘foreign concept’ to Gen Alpha
Teenagers’ changing aspirations should come as no surprise as Gen Alpha tweens grow up binging MrBeast videos over “Law & Order.” Now, more middle-school and high-school kids are turning their focus to digital careers in lieu of traditional jobs that have been romanticized for generations.
Christine Kahm, head of customer strategy & intelligence at Block, tells Fortune that these digital native teenagers are used to earning money in more unconventional ways.
“This is just how they have always done it,” Kahm says.
“They grew up earning through platforms, managing multiple income streams, getting paid in all kinds of ways. The traditional model—one employer, one paycheck—that’s actually the more foreign concept to them.”
Gen Alpha dreams of becoming YouTube creators and influencers
Gen Alpha is gaining steam as a force of unconventional entrepreneurship in the economy. The youngest generation, ranging from newborn babies to 16 years in age, has already surpassed $100 billion in direct spending power annually, according to a 2025 report from DKC.
Around 91% of Gen Alpha kids are working or making money on their own, with 40% getting paid for “odd jobs” outside of the house. And their affluence is only set to grow, as the teens and tweens are on track to reach $5.46 trillion in spending power by 2029, according to research-based advisory firm McCrindle.
And they’re aspiring to make a living in different ways than their predecessors. Now, being a YouTuber is Gen Alpha’s top job aspiration, with more than 30% of 12 to 15-year-olds saying they want to take up the career, according to a 2025 report from social commerce platform Whop. And that gig is followed up by 21% of kids hoping to one day become TikTok creators—another highly lucrative platform that has launched the careers of million-dollar successes Addison Rae, Charli D’Amelio, and Khaby Lame.
“Kids today see YouTubers like MrBeast, streamers, and online resellers achieving financial success without a college degree or traditional career path,” Cameron Zoub, co-founder of Whop, told Fortune last year. “It’s also important to recognize that at a young age, career choices are also often based on what looks fun rather than financial logic.”
TikTok and YouTube creators are jobs that simply didn’t exist 25 years ago, but it’s a dream for digital natives who grew up with vlogs and bingeable videos as entertainment.
They’re even being lured into content creator gigs; nearly a quarter of Gen Alpha kids have been contacted by a brand with a digital sponsorship opportunity. And about 30% would consider making money through the partnerships on YouTube or TikTok.
“Gen Alpha has grown up watching YouTubers who have turned content creation into highly lucrative careers,” Zoub continued. “Unlike TV, movie, or sports celebrities, these digital figures feel more relatable and accessible, making the YouTuber career path seem achievable.”
There’s still a cohort of kids pursuing traditional jobs like nursing, entrepreneurship, teaching, and athletics; 20% of Gen Alpha kids want to be a doctor or nurse, 15% hope to be an athlete, and 14% are looking to become a teacher, according to the Whop report. But they have one foot in the digital world of self-made influencers, and one in the storied arena of white-collar work.
