While some perceive today's youth as immersed in digital distractions, a growing number of tweens and teens are opting for traditional summer jobs, leveraging social media platforms to promote their services and engage with their communities. This trend marks a departure from a long-term decline in teenage summer employment, which has seen a 30 percentage point drop since the 1970s, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Eleven-year-old Ali Scheib from Dearborn, Michigan, exemplifies this shift. He offers services such as car washing, pool cleaning, and lawn watering to neighbors. With the help of his father, he created a promotional Instagram video highlighting his willingness to work. This online effort, combined with door-to-door outreach, has expanded his client base to approximately 50 local families. Ali manages his own appointments and schedule, learning the importance of punctuality and time management. He has found that his work provides valuable interpersonal skills and reinforces the importance of disconnecting from devices to engage with the real world.
Similarly, Ashton Meyer, also an 11-year-old, is challenging the "iPad kid" stereotype associated with Generation Alpha by offering garbage can washing services in Ontario, Canada. Initially intimidated by approaching strangers, Ashton now confidently pitches his services after knocking on doors. He has built a client base of 70 households, charging $10 per visit. His earnings are being saved for a new computer and scooter, with a portion reinvested into his business for cleaning supplies. Ashton emphasizes the lesson of financial prudence, learning not to spend all his earnings immediately.
In Stony Brook, New York, 12-year-old Aidan Larson is also earning money by washing garbage cans for about 10 regular clients. He manages all communication and scheduling via text and uses flyers created with Canva, which he shares in local Facebook groups. Aidan views his venture as a lesson in self-leadership and responsibility, learning to follow up with clients and manage his time. His mother encourages him to be cautious but not fearful of the world, supporting his entrepreneurial spirit. Aidan plans to use some of his earnings for a new bike and intends to invest in the stock market.
Teenage brothers Luis and Ruben from Staten Island are also cleaning garbage cans, advertising their services with a poster generated using AI. They offer pricing for one or two cans, with the goal of earning money to support their individual passions—martial arts for Ruben, and for Luis, the milestone of being able to buy his own belongings. Their mother has observed that her sons have become more conscientious and understand the value of hard work since starting their summer jobs, contrasting with their previous expectation of receiving money without direct effort.
These young entrepreneurs are not only earning money but also acquiring essential life skills such as time management, customer service, and financial literacy, demonstrating a proactive approach to summer that diverges from the common perception of disengaged youth.