'Influencer Internships' on the rise

'Influencer Internships' on the rise

A recent survey of over 2,000 millennials and Gen Z-ers by Morning Consult shows that 54% of them said that they would become influencers if they could. In recent months and years, social media influencers have been offering unpaid internships that were criticised as exploitative. After decades of labor activism, class-action lawsuits and legislation to make internships less exploitative, it is hard to see why someone would take up an internship as such (unpaid or not) with a self-employed internet celebrity. 

However, for people who grew up on the internet, sharing carefully edited videos and swapping product recommendations, this opportunity to learn how to make a living off of their content can be alluring. The data from the Morning Consult survey goes to show that the last two years have radically impacted people's work and life. The option of creative freedom and flexibility and not to mention, a higher earning potential maybe even stronger. Gabe Feldman, head of business development at Viral Nation, which represents 300 influencers worldwide says, "Younger people don’t want to live a corporate life. They want to have fun, be in something relevant, embedded in the culture." There are many ways to become an influencer.

Sometimes, it's a happy accident with a video going viral or a message from a brand. But sometimes, people go through boot camps and training to grow their numbers. Some others directly text an influencer for a job. This arrangement can have many downsides like working odd hours, unstructured work, limited labor protection and accountability and payment. Only 40% of Viral Nation's clients compensate their interns with hourly pay, salary or cash bonuses. For many youngsters with debts and a 30-year high for inflation, giving away free labor is untenable. 

Source: The New York Times 
Tags In
MyGate App

You might also like

For several reasons, the IT sector is appealing to job seekers. ...Read more

Despite the opposition of restaurant owners who worried it would raise customers' bills, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a nation-leading law providing more than 500,000 fast food employees additional authority and rights. ...Read more

Demands for improved pay and workplace environments are coming from workers in California to New York. ...Read more

New graduates from institutions in Nigeria and other African nations have been made aware of job prospects by Microsoft. ...Read more

A mattress company is searching for a role where napping while working is not only acceptable but also required. 'Casper Sleepers' are being hired by Casper, a New York-based business established in 2014. ...Read more

Articles

Teaching jobs: transformative teacher roles you can undertake amidst the teacher shortage in the US ...Read more

One of the key responsibilities of HR teams is to ensure a diverse workplace and manage it effectiv ...Read more

Student loan debt is a crisis that has been making its way through The United States for quite some ...Read more

Recruitment is getting more challenging day by day. Layers of complexities have emerged with the pa ...Read more