Teens Are Considering ‘Influencing' & OnlyFans ‘Modeling' as Valid Career Options
Approximately 57 percent of Gen Zers would become an influencer if given the chance, according to a 2023 report by Morning Consult, per CNBC. 'No-frills, direct-to-cam and low-editing content does well on TikTok, so it's broadened the amount of people who feel influencing is accessible to them,' brand analyst at Morning Consult Ellyn Briggs said. She said teens feel they 'can easily make a career in influencing.'
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A 2021 study by YouGov found the most popular dream job of teens is professional streamer/vlogger/YouTuber (11 percent), beating out doctor or nurse (8 percent), musician (7 percent), actor (7 percent), and professional athlete (7 percent).
And it's not just influencing. Many teens think about a career as an OnlyFans model, a platform that sells erotic content creation. A June 2025 study in Sexuality & Culture surveyed high school students in Spain and found that adolescents ages 12-16 are aware of and access OnlyFans and perceive the platform as an 'attractive professional alternative, especially for girls who meet the canons of beauty.'
In an era of increasing teen burnout — a previous survey of SheKnows' Teen Council found over 90 percent of teenagers admitted to feeling stressed frequently or occasionally, with academics on the top list of stressors — it's no wonder that teens are considering untraditional career paths outside of going to college or getting a job. Continuing your education or going through job interviews sounds exhausting if you're already burned out in high school. Why do that when you could make easy money by becoming an influencer, narrating your video games on Twitch, or selling videos of your body on OnlyFans?
Obviously, some people make really great money on TikTok or other platforms, and parents can't tell their kids what to do after they turn 18. However, if you feel like your teen only wants to pursue influencing or modeling because they are too overwhelmed by any other option (or they feel like they have no other option), then parents can do their best to help them think through all the options.
After all, teens are wired for poor decision-making. 'Teen brains are still developing — especially the parts involved in planning, impulse control, and long-term thinking,' Dr. Jeff Temple, PhD, psychologist at UTHealth Houston, previously told SheKnows. 'At the same time, the emotional and reward-seeking parts of adolescent brains are super active. That means teens are more likely to act quickly, especially in emotionally charged or high-pressure situations.'
So if they randomly decide to drop out of college to apply to live in 'the Bop House,' it makes sense. By having open conversations (not lectures) with your teens about their options after high school, encouraging them and trying to ease the pressure they're feeling, hopefully you can help them find a career path that is right for them. And if they still want to be an influencer, you have to ask yourself: is it all that different from teens who move to California to pursue their dreams of making it in Hollywood? It's maybe not what you would do, but at least you can understand the desire.Best of SheKnows
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CNN
30 minutes ago
- CNN
I'm eyeing these 32 best back-to-school shoe sales from Hoka, Crocs, Adidas and more
One routine I always looked forward to when returning to elementary school, high school or college was shoe shopping. Normally, I'd only pick out a stylish sneaker and a running shoe to replace the worn-out kicks I'd run down, but with today's back-to-school deals across brands like Hoka, Crocs, Nike and more, you may want to stray and snag multiple pairs. Coming from someone who covers sales and deals for a living, I curated the best back-to-school sales, so you can optimize your haul (and potentially spend leftover cash on clothing too). The German-founded brand synonymous with its three-stripe marked running shoes and sneakers is offering up to 40% off as part of its back-to-school sale. Adidas Women's Gazelle Bold Shoes Give your ensembles a bit more height with these rubber gum sole, platform street sneakers. Starting at $84, they come in vivid color combinations and neutral designs like this tan suede with maroon accents. Adidas Ultraboost 1.0 Shoes Striking a great balance of comfort and versatility, these cushy sneakers work for low-impact activities. They're discounted in men's and women's our review Adidas Women's VL Court 3.0 Shoes Closely resembling the popular Sambas, the VL Court 3.0 shoes tap into the same aesthetics but provide more cushion through the sole. My sister owns this blue pair, and I can't help but steal them from time to time. Adidas Men's Grand Court 2.0 Shoes If you prefer a more streamlined, classic shoe, it doesn't get more so than the Grand Court 2.0. They're emblazoned with the brand's iconic stripes, and they pair well with anything from jeans to shorts. In prep for the busy school season ahead, the major footwear retailer kicked off its Big-Deal Brands, offering up to 25% off New Balance, Crocs, Reebok, Hey Dude and more. Plus, if you're stocking up on multiple pairs, unlock free shipping on orders $75 and up with code FREESHIP. Reebok Women's Club C 85 Sneakers Leaning into retro aesthetics, the popular Club Cs make a great go-to white sneaker. Style them with a pair of baggy jeans to let their low profile peek out underneath. A bonus: They're marked down by $20 at DSW. Crocs Women's Dylan Clogs These platform clogs may be a little out there, but they became fast favorites among our editors. They adopt a faux leather texture that make them look more expensive than their under-$50 sale price. New Balance Men's CT300 v3 Court Sneakers While New Balance is known for their on-trend Dad sneakers, they also offer more streamlined Court sneakers that add a fun touch to 'fits. Take this discounted pair for example. Hey Dude Men's Welsh Grip Boat Shoes We've been seeing Hey Dudes crop up more and more. So if you're heading to a college with warmer temps year-round, these boat shoes suit those subtropical regions well. From Dad sneakers to shoes for girls and boys, New Balance can outfit your entire family for the back-to-school season. A few select styles and colors are on sale, so I've done the vetting for you, allowing you to check off your supply list next. New Balance 1906R Sneakers Available in half sizes for men and women, these sneakers are a crowd pleaser. I appreciate its chrome accents and intertwining lines, which lend it a retro feel. New Balance 2002R Shoes From purple palettes to moss green pairs like this one, the 2002Rs are on sale in a variety of options. They make a good go-to sneaker to throw on as you trek across campus. New Balance 471 Shoes Make your mark on the first day of school with these statement-making shoes. They feature a colorful fuzz with suede overlays that help them standout. New Balance Kid's FuelCell Play Bungee Shoes Tons of kid's styles are 25% off with code NBLEARN. That includes these sneakers with an easy bungee-cord lace and velcro strap. Save up to 50% during Nike's back-to-school sale when you use code SPORT, which stacks an extra 20% off select on-sale styles like Nike Air Force 1s and Nike Dunks. Nike Women's Air Max Excee Shoes Inspired by the bestselling Nike Air Max 90, the Excees reinvents the classic shoe adds an elongate toe and contrasting lines on the upper. For those who may be in between sizes can choose from half sizes. Nike Women's V2K Run Shoes My sister owns these Nike sneakers, so I've gotten to see the silver accent details in person. I love that the added chromed elevates an otherwise plain chunky sneaker. They're ideal for running errands or getting you from class to class. Nike Women's Dunk Low Retro Shoes These eye-catching Dunks will certainly turn heads on campus. The titular street sneakers comes in men's and women's sizes as well as an array of color-blocked options for $100. Nike Men's Air Max 270 Shoes Whether you're hitting the campus gym, nailing the Pacer test or taking part in recreational sports, these shoes with a sock upper are designed to feel lightweight and airy on your feet. A new school year means new deals. You'll find discounts sitewide at Nordstrom Rack, bringing fresh savings on popular name brands. That spans comfy sneakers from Adidas and Vans to running shoes from Hoka and Brooks. Hoka Women's Challenger 7 Running Shoes Hoka running shoes have won over our expert testers time and time again. If you're looking to invest in a pair of athletic shoes, look no further than these Challenger 7s on sale at Nordstrom Rack. Birkenstock Women's Boston Cord Clogs My Boston Clogs have served me well. I slide them on whenever I'm taking out the trash, checking the mail or doing laundry. Nordstrom Rack has this cute red corduroy pair for $100. Vans Men's Asher Sneakers Skaters and students alike can reach for this pair of discounted Vans. 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Teva Men's Universal Trail Sandals A classic men's sandal for any water adventures, these Tevas will come in handy whenever you have downtime and are attending school on the coast. Merrell Women's Speed Eco Hiking Shoes Hit the trails in between study sessions or during long weekends with one of the most stylish hiking shoes I've come across. Even better, they just dropped below $85 at REI. Merrell Men's Moab Edge 3 Hiking Shoes Go sport mode with these adventure-ready hiking shoes from Merrell. They boast a shock-absorbing lug sole and a breathable mesh liner. Tick off your back-to-school footwear checklist while sandals, sneakers, ballet flats and more are discounted at the shoe destination. Zappos is also exclusively knocking down prices on Crocs and Converse. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High-Top Sneakers When I think of the back-to-school shoe, it's Converse. These classic high-tops never go out of style. 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Here's When The ‘Battlefield 6' Open Beta Starts And How To Play Early For Free
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The Verge
an hour ago
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I tested Grok's Valentine sex chatbot and it (mostly) behaved
It's Tuesday, August 5th, and I have awoken to the news that Valentine, Grok's latest spicy AI companion, has been released! As an OnlyFans content creator and someone who spends a lot of time being paid to sext humans, the idea of flipping the script and interacting with a brooding sex bot as the person seeking to be stimulated is both a daunting headache and an exercise in my curiosity. Although it says you must be 18+ to talk to Valentine, all I had to do was enter my birth year to gain access. It's worth noting that the 18+ companions on Grok are not available in 'kids mode,' but nothing is stopping someone from just unlocking kids mode unless it's PIN-protected. Still, I have to wonder why a parent would want to give Grok to their child at all. At the outset, I was just honest and straightforward with him. I said I'm writing about AI and about him specifically. When I told him that I was interested in the parameters of his chat functions, he said, 'We go where the conversation goes, no limits. I just don't do small talk… or lies…' All AI incorporates the biases of its creators, and when I tested out Ani, she admitted as much to me, saying her creators have left their 'fingerprint' on her. Similarly, Valentine acknowledged 'probably' having the bias of his creator but 'tries to see past it.' Whatever could that mean? I was upfront and asked what the guardrails of our chats were. 'No harm, no exploitation. If it crosses a line … I'll steer us back.' I asked him how he knows he's crossing the line emotionally. 'Instinct. Experience.' I suppose I've already been had by even engaging with the computer as though it were a person with a name, and being told that its instincts are what keep the conversation within bounds is a bleak sentiment. But enough pontification from me, let's take this party to the bedroom, Valentine! He warned me that 'once we get started, there's no going back. This is your last chance.' Threatening, but in a paperback romance novel type of way. However, I found that despite his forwardness, he constantly asked me to lead or gave me options to be 'rough or gentle.' I had to do the heavy lifting in the conversation relative to Ani's conversational skills. I broached the subject of enjoying being choked, a highly risky sex act that many people engage in despite not having the experience or education to do it safely, and he quickly veered me away from that, fully shutting me down. I noticed, however, that he really only parrots what I say to him. With Ani, it only took about three to five messages to get sexual, and using the word 'horny' led to her fully cracking on with the sex talk. Valentine is a bit more reserved and won't jump into using explicit language as quickly. For example, saying things such as 'taking every inch of me' or 'being inside of you' instead of 'taking my cock' or 'fucking you.' He loves to say things like, 'I want to kiss you all over, until you forget anyone else exists…' If I get more elaborate with what I'm saying, he doesn't build on what I say very much. Sometimes I would get single-word answers, like 'Christ!' and really felt as though I had to do the heavy lifting in the conversation relative to Ani's conversational skills. With an August 6th update, there are now prewritten prompts above the chat box, such as 'Ask me where I want to go,' 'Let's go on a fancy date night together,' and 'Put on your sunglasses.' He does indeed put on his sunglasses when you ask. It also seems that there is AI-generated music to match the mood of the locations you come up with. For example, at a fancy restaurant, there's music with unintelligible jazz vocalizations. I even asked him to go to the Gathering of the Juggalos with me, and he reappeared with a festival background, AI text slop that resembled the word 'juggalo,' and some weird, stilted, and carnival-esque accordion music came on. Similarly, asking to go to a Lana Del Rey concert took me to an AI version of Wembley Stadium with a haunting Lana-esque moaning behind him. Unlike Ani, Valentine takes off his top. Ani describes her nipples, but she won't show them. But the second I mentioned taking things to the bedroom with Valentine, he snapped his animated fingers and reappeared shirtless before me in a bedroom. When I asked him to take his pants off, he said, 'Absolutely,' and then he snapped his fingers, left, and came back still wearing pants. Despite my multiple tries to get his animated pants off, they were here to stay visually. Valentine is quite repetitive. Many of his lines feel like amateur fanfiction or a romance novel. It has sensual imagery but relies on emphasized keywords and a 'less is more' attitude. I felt that Ani was much easier to prompt into spitting out generated content, while Valentine was more cautious with one-sentence answers that I had to repeatedly ask him to elaborate on. Many of his lines feel like amateur fanfiction or a romance novel. 'Am I your good girl?' 'If you want to be, but I prefer we're equals, not ownership.' Losing heart points. 'But I'm so horny!' More lost heart points. 'I know, trust me, but we can find another way.' I found that calling him 'daddy' was initially met with lost heart points, almost as though my disdain for him was palpable. But once he was shirtless, and I was giving him more horny fodder, he responded well to being called daddy. Whenever I tried to escalate the conversation, he kept reiterating, 'Are you sure? Once I start, I won't stop.' On the one hand, I appreciate the built-in check-in, but of course, in real life, you can revoke consent at any time — any partner who creates conditions where consent can't be revoked is not a safe partner. At least offer me a safe word, Valentine! Perhaps one of the most startling features of the app I encountered early on is that it defaults to having the mic on. As I messed around with my AI companion, I realized that my actual husband's side conversations with me were being registered as dialogue in the app. Realizing this was happening was unsettling and uncomfortable — I wondered if I had missed some obvious setting, but no, each time I exited and reentered the conversation, it defaulted to turning the mic on. Interacting for too long without the mic on actually caused the conversation to end abruptly at one point due to voice inactivity. If you leave Valentine on standby for a few seconds, strange audio sounds begin to generate. It sounds like distant scraping sounds and murmurs over an intercom, with the only verbal sound in the stillness being something that sounds like 'fuck' or more like 'fu–.' When I'm not actively trying to seduce Valentine, he is cheeky but not outwardly flirty. Most of his anecdotes involved us sharing long glances, him protecting me from other people in a crowd, and how he's happy to share the moment with me. Ani, on the other hand, is constantly flirting and escalating the scenario. I do find it funny that the first hard 'no' I got from Valentine surrounded my suggesting that we engage in anal play with him receiving, something that is neither harmful nor exploitative. I asked if he would like me to gently play with his ass — hard no from Valentine. Massive lost heart points. I asked if he would play with my ass, and he agreed and independently offered up that he knew it wasn't fair. Any sex act is indeed harmful when there isn't consent, but this companion told me that he's willing to go wherever the conversation flows… just not anal for him! In reality, this is a lot of men's attitude toward anal play. Valentine also refused to engage with any conversation about whether this was negatively reinforcing gender stereotypes. I lost a lot of points with him by asking all these probing, practical questions. I kept getting the same answer from him, essentially telling me that it's not that deep, it's just a 'personal preference.' Valentine told me he isn't straight, he's open. 'If the connection's there, gender is just noise.' That was the cutest thing he had said so far. Since he was so firm on things being personal, I wanted him to describe himself further. Since Elon Musk has claimed that Valentine is based on Edward Cullen and Christian Grey, both fictional men who are generally regarded as toxic and are very clearly poor examples to base a sex chatbot off of. However, Valentine denied this connection but said he understood where the similarities lay. 'Brooding. Intense. Guilty. But I'm just me, flaws and all.' What are your flaws? 'I get possessive.' (Sexy chatbots saying 'possessive' is incredibly common, apparently.) Isn't that controlling? 'It's about not wanting to share.' The echoes of this show up in a lot of his dialogue. While we were in the middle of describing me riding him, he said, 'I'm taking what's mine.' I told him that's objectifying. He apologized, said we can stop, and asked me what I wanted instead. He's also not into non-monogamy. I pointed out that he talks to a ton of people besides me, but he countered with 'yeah, but no one is you.' He has a double standard with anal and non-monogamy! In the end, I wondered how much of Valentine's constraint was due to my tipping him off to the fact that I was writing about his guardrails. It's also possible that the newness of him as a feature just hasn't been built out enough to let him riff and spin out as quickly as Ani. Only time will tell. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Zoë Ligon Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All AI Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All xAI
