According to Pew Research, in 2021, 84% of Americans age 18-29 use at least one social media site. Within this age group, 95% said they use YouTube, 71% use Instagram and 48% use TikTok.

Most young Americans use multiple social media sites for their businesses because each platform has something different to offer.

“Instagram is a bit more stiff and rigid,” said Voong, who prefers to use TikTok to make videos.

Parra had tested YouTube with skits and similar career advice videos before making the switch to TikTok.

“TikTok lowers those barriers of entry because of the way the algorithm is,” he said.

The site’s algorithm allows new users, who would not have a big number of followers initially, to better distribute their content. This means users have a better chance of a video going viral.

“I thought I could contribute to that early trend of educational TikTok,” said Parra.

Though Etsy does not necessarily offer viral opportunities, it offers sellers, particularly part-time sellers, a less intensive way of putting products on the market.

“It’s a lot easier to put your stuff out there and just let it be,” Villalobos said, who is currently studying graphic design at Texas A&M University-Commerce. “With Instagram you have to have a following and be on there all day.”

YouTube has been around the longest of these social media platforms, since May 2005, beating Etsy’s emergence by just a month. The former platform offers abundance and variety by way of engaging with its newest users.

“We take a lot of stuff à la carte [now],” DaVega said. “I get such a big variety on my home page.”

She uses the site to explore videos about true crime and Korean cooking in addition to creating language learning content.

The utilization of online communities also sets young entrepreneurs apart from older generations in the workforce.

In the same report from JA Worldwide, respondents said an ideal career would be one that “generates thought and ideas” and allows interaction “with people from around the globe.”  

The internet and social media platforms allow young entrepreneurs to tap into a global market without even buying a plane ticket. They also allow meaningful interactions, through niches on the internet where creators help each other.

“In the past couple of years, the language community has grown so much,” said DaVega about her YouTube channel. “These are my internet friends, and we all share tips and can learn something from each other.”

Villalobos said online communities, especially among fellow artists, can be found on her Etsy page and Instagram, too. 

“There were people asking me … what glitter do you use? What glitter is best for mixing? What resin do you use?” she said.

Villalobos said she initially responded to the messages to be helpful but soon found herself becoming an active part of this community.

These online communities are making skills and knowledge more accessible. It’s a new age where creators are helping other creators— collaborating rather than competing.

Together they work toward a common goal: to entertain and inform their audiences. 

Since social media platforms are typically free to use, many barriers to knowledge and information and success have been eliminated.

Voong, who learned how to sew completely from the internet, started her TikTok with the intent of giving this knowledge back to other beginners.

“I want to contribute in that way and have people who can’t afford it or have the time to learn it properly to be able to,” she said. “The same way I did.”

Not only are her sewing videos helpful to her viewers, but they’re inspirational.

Voong often receives Direct Messages from people who followed her tutorials and send pictures of their own finished work. One shirt tutorial in particular received lots of engagement.

“It is one of my favorites because it clearly resonated a lot with my audience,” she said.

Gen Zers aren’t just selling products on social media, they’re also transferring knowledge and skills.

These entrepreneurs have made their own valuable expertise — like sewing, learning a foreign language and cover-letter and resume writing —accessible to the public.

“Younger entrepreneurs are really taking advantage of the resources they have in front of them,” said Sawyer. “Still working equally as hard [as other generations] but having different results.”