22 Million U.S. Teenagers Earn Money Through Digital Platforms and Online Work
Approximately 22 million teenagers aged 13 to 17 are earning income through digital and informal channels such as livestreaming video games, online reselling, and in-game platforms like Roblox, according to a Cash App whitepaper. Gen Alpha is increasingly entering the economy through non-traditional means years before formal employment, with top career aspirations including YouTube creator and TikTok influencer. The trend signals a generational shift in how young people conceptualize work, income, and career success.
A whitepaper published by Cash App, owned by fintech company Block, finds that around 22 million U.S. teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 are earning money through part-time, informal, or digital work. Roughly 10% earn through video game livestreaming, 16% through online reselling, and 10% via in-game platforms such as Roblox. Gen Alpha, the youngest generation, already commands over $100 billion in direct annual spending power and is projected to reach $5.46 trillion in spending power by 2029. Career aspirations reflect this digital orientation: more than 30% of 12-to-15-year-olds say they want to become YouTubers, and 21% aspire to be TikTok creators, according to a separate 2025 report from social commerce platform Whop. Experts note that digital figures like MrBeast feel more relatable and accessible to this generation than traditional celebrities, making content creation seem like an achievable career path. Traditional professions such as nursing, teaching, and athletics still attract significant interest, suggesting Gen Alpha is navigating both digital and conventional career landscapes simultaneously.
What's missing
The Cash App whitepaper is produced by Block, a fintech company with a commercial interest in teen financial behavior, which may introduce bias in how findings are framed or which data points are highlighted. The methodology, sample size, and geographic scope of the whitepaper are not detailed in the articles, making it difficult to assess the robustness of the 22 million figure.
What different sources said
- FortuneCenter
Around 22 million teenagers are making their pocket money on video games, online reselling, and in-game platforms like Roblox
- Yahoo FinanceCenter
Around 22 million teenagers are making their pocket money on video games, online reselling, and in-game platforms like Roblox
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