Why do kids dream of fame and not the factory?

Let’s be honest: if your kid dreams of becoming a TikToker or a blogger, it’s not a tragedy but a milestone. Yes, it might sound strange, but let’s unpack it.

Let’s be honest: if your kid dreams of becoming a TikToker or a blogger, it’s not a tragedy but a milestone. Yes, it might sound strange, but let’s unpack it.

What are the new generations striving for?

Today’s teens want fame, recognition, likes, and followers. This doesn’t mean they’re lazy or useless. It means their basic needs are met. They don’t worry about where their next meal will come from or how to escape an abusive household. Their goals are about self-expression and status.

Why is that a good thing? Because it shows that civilization is progressing. We’re moving up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The ones crying about the "end of the world" forget that, not so long ago, kids dreamed of leaving school early to find work and escape harsh family conditions. Now, they want to make videos, write music, or run blogs. They’re not afraid to stand out.

A throwback to the past

Let’s imagine the opposite. You step outside and see teenagers focused only on how to find money for food. They dream of becoming manual laborers or workers, just to leave their troubled homes. Is that better? Really? Do you truly want kids aspiring to hard labor, a shared room in a crumbling apartment, and a life with no status or freedom?

The answer is simple: no. You want better for your kids. So why judge others for striving for the same — just through modern means?

The myth of the “lazy youth”

Every generation criticizes the next. In the 80s, they said: “These kids just listen to rock and do nothing.” In the 90s: “They sit at computers instead of working.” Today: “All they care about is likes.” It’s normal. The world evolves, and we struggle to adapt.

But young people aren’t stupid. Fame is a resource. It’s money, freedom, and the chance to do what they love. Don’t you want that, too? The difference is, they’re bold enough to try, while you might just lack freedom and faith in yourself.

Why there’s no need to worry

Only a handful will make it. Stars are rare, and that’s okay. The rest will learn from their failures and return to familiar paths. By 30, many of these “stars” will join you on the same bench, reminiscing about how “things were better back then.” But isn’t it cool that they at least tried?

Teen dreams of fame aren’t the end of civilization. They’re its evolution. The new world demands new ambitions, born not of hunger or poverty but of the desire to live boldly and beautifully. Isn’t that a good thing?