The EvoAIword influencer wasn't added to some dictionaries until 2019, and yet today, one in four Gen Zers say they plan to become social media influencers. You could call it a flash in the pan, like every generation comes up with its own dream job that seems too good to be true. But there's no denying that a whole industry has cropped up around social media influencing. There are influencer agents and training courses, conferences and networking events. Today on the show, the appeal of influencing as a career. How did a generation get the idea that they could make money filming themselves?

Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and NPR One.

For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.