The 3 Biggest Challenges Parents Face When Raising Young Creators (and How to Start Tackling Them)
Not long ago, the idea of a child becoming a "content creator" or "influencer" felt far removed from everyday family life. Fast forward to today, and millions of kids and teens are sharing their passions online through platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram—with many building sizable audiences and even earning money. As my daughter got into middle school she would tell us that she wanted to be an influencer when she got older. We were quick to tell her that its not a realistic goal or easily achievable. However as you will learn, she proved us wrong.
In fact, recent research shows that approximately 95% of U.S. teens aged 13–17 are active on social media, and a significant percentage of children under 13 access these platforms in some form as well. With so many young people participating in the digital world, parents are facing new challenges that simply didn’t exist a decade ago.
As exciting as this new digital frontier can be for teens, most parents are finding themselves in uncharted territory. How do you support your child's creative passion while keeping them safe, balanced, and prepared for the responsibilities that come with an online presence? The truth is: there's no roadmap for this—yet.
At Raising Creators, we're here to change that. Let's take a look at three of the biggest challenges parents face when raising young creators and some simple ways to start tackling them today.
1. Online Safety & Privacy
The internet can be a wonderful place for self-expression, creativity, and connection. But it also carries real risks—from cyberbullying to online predators to the permanent nature of anything posted publicly.
What You Can Do:
Have ongoing conversations about what is safe to share (and what isn’t).
Help your child set up privacy settings on their accounts. This one can be tricky if you aren’t familiar with the various platforms and settings. You will need to spend some time learning, or reach out to someone who is more familiar that can help.
Regularly review content together—not as a "monitor" but as a partner.
Teach your child to value kindness and recognize warning signs in online interactions.
Remember: safety isn't about fear—it's about empowerment through awareness.
2. Mental Health & Balance
Content creation can be exciting, but the pressure to constantly perform, gain likes, and "go viral" can take a real toll on young minds. Many kids tie their self-worth to online feedback, which can lead to anxiety, stress, and burnout.
What You Can Do:
Set clear boundaries for screen time and "off-camera" life. Learn how to use “screen time” if you are on an iOS device and talk with your teen about expectations of device usage.
Talk to your child about how to approach comments on their content—remind them that not all feedback reflects their worth and it's okay to ignore, delete, or limit comments. Unfortunately there are just mean people out there that thrive on putting other people down. But work through a plan of how to address those comments.
Normalize "breaks" from social media and celebrate effort they are putting into the content as well as the views. When your child achieves meaningful milestones, those should all be celebrated!
Your child's mental well-being comes first—no follower count is more important than that.
3. Business & Legal Unknowns
Many parents are surprised to discover that their child's online hobby can quickly turn into a business. I didn’t realize how profitable content creation could be. Brand partnerships, ad revenue, and even taxes can appear sooner than you might expect.
What You Can Do:
Start keeping simple records of any income earned. However if it starts to grow quicky, its time to talk with a finance professional.
Learn the basics of taxes for minors and online income. A finance professional can help set expectations and processes to make sure you dont get hit with an unexpected tax bill.
Consider opening a custodial account or business account when income becomes steady.
Educate yourself on contracts, brand deals, and child labor laws (especially Coogan Accounts if applicable).
You don’t need to be an expert overnight, but taking small steps to understand the business side early on can save headaches later.
Raising a young creator is an exciting and unique journey—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By taking small, intentional steps toward safety, mental wellness, and business awareness, you're setting your teen up for success in this new digital world.
And you don't have to do it alone.
Join the Raising Creators community for more tips, tools, and support as we navigate this world together.
Your child has big dreams—and you have the power to help them shine, safely and confidently.