Will These Hobbies Leave a Teenager Without a Future? The Unpleasant Truth Parents Are In No Hurry to Learn
Your son streams games all day long, your daughter takes selfies in a swimsuit, and the boy next door makes money on crypto instead of studying.
"Where is the world heading?" - you want to exclaim. But what if these "terrible" hobbies are the key to success in the new world?
Take eSports. Professional gamers earn millions, sign contracts with brands and travel the world.
Yes, the chances of becoming a star are small, but even an amateur level develops reaction, logic and the ability to work in a team - skills that are needed in IT, medicine and engineering. Forbidding to play is the same as forbidding to study.
What about blogging? Your daughter's first videos seem silly: dancing to pop music, makeup challenges. But behind it all is the ability to behave in front of the camera, edit videos, and communicate with the audience.
In 5 years, these skills can turn into a career as an SMM manager, video producer, or even a startup founder.
Instead of criticizing, offer help: “Let’s think about how to improve the lighting in the frame” or “Why not add subtitles for greater accessibility?” This way, you become an ally, not an enemy, of progress.
But what about the dangers? Cryptocurrencies, darknet, toxic communities — yes, there are risks. But bans will only spur interest.
It’s better to teach your teenager to filter information. Explain how to recognize scammers, why you shouldn’t share personal data, how to protect your digital footprint.
Explain that scammers often hide behind the anonymity of forums, and that “easy money” online usually leads to the loss of savings. Teenagers value honesty — show them the pitfalls, and they themselves will begin to be cautious.
And most importantly, understand that their world is different from yours. What seems “useless” to you is a language of communication, a way of self-expression, and even an art form for them.
Instead of judging, try to understand. Ask: "Why do you like this game?", "What is it about this blogger that catches your attention?"
You might discover that behind simple shooters there are complex stories about moral choice, and behind memes there is sharp social satire.
And who knows, maybe in 10 years these “stupid” hobbies will become a ticket to a life you never even dared to dream of.
