Young creators are “burning out” under the pressure to pump out content. 

Young creators are “burning out” under the pressure to pump out content. The content creator industry has become the fastest-growing small-business segment during the pandemic, with more than 50 million people considering themselves creators (a.k.a. influencers) according to a report from SignalFire. Now, many influencers are voicing their mental health experiences, saying they’ve “lost their passion” as pressure to meet demanding social media expectations rises. Many OG YouTubers have been signing off in the last few years, and more recently TikTok star Charli D’Amelio spoke out about the stress of creating as a career. Several others have followed—some even stepping down from their platforms. Gen Z and Millennials’ mental health concerns were exacerbated by the pandemic, and the creators of their generation are no exception. While creators in the TikTok era have watched previous generations endure the same feelings of burnout, none of them were prepared for the endless hours brought on by the pandemic. One TikToker notes: “The over saturation and this push for everyone to be a creator seems disingenuous…it seems like a cash grab. It makes me feel very disposable, which maybe I am. It’s just next, next, next.” (NYT)