OnlyFans and AI training: why gen Z doesn’t care where our money comes from | Alice Lassman
Source: Guardian Econ ↗
Young people are turning away from traditional, stable employment and embracing a patchwork of side gigs that promise immediate cash, autonomy and identity, a shift the author dubs “production nihilism.” With insecure jobs, unaffordable housing and low ambition for leadership roles, Generation Z is no longer willing to wait for a conventional “good life.” Instead, they gravitate toward platform‑enabled work—training large language models on sites like Mercor, building YouTube channels, earning on OnlyFans, or offering non‑sexualized escort services—often supplementing a modest day job that merely covers rent. Over half of Gen Z report having a side hustle, more than double the rate of Baby Boomers, and they proudly label themselves “writers” or “creators” rather than “analysts” on dating profiles, signaling a redefinition of professional identity.
The root of this transformation lies in the collapse of the long‑term production function that once turned hard work into a stable salary, mortgage and pension. As the promise of homeownership, career advancement and future security fades, young people abandon the hope that sustained effort will yield future rewards. This “financial nihilism” pushes them to seek immediate returns, while the cultural shift—characterized by the “Gen Z stare” and “faked productivity”—reflects a broader disillusionment with neoliberal promises. The author links this to historical anxieties, noting how post‑war French cinema portrayed women commodifying their time to keep up with consumer culture, a precursor to today’s gig economy. Unlike past depictions of passive despair, Gen Z actively reclaims agency, treating every asset—time, body, digital presence—as a marketable commodity.
The implications are profound for the labor market and the broader economy. As AI reduces the need for entry‑level staff, companies may rely more on flexible, platform‑based workers who can be hired and dismissed at will, reshaping employment structures. This shift also challenges conventional metrics of career success and could accelerate the decline of prestige‑driven professions. Meanwhile, the rise of “portfolio careers” suggests a future workforce that values diversified income streams over linear progression, potentially redefining social expectations around stability, wealth accumulation and even family formation. The author warns that this active nihilism, while empowering for individuals, may further entrench a “little treat” economy where short‑term extraction replaces long‑term investment, leaving society to grapple with the long‑term consequences of a workforce increasingly detached from the traditional neoliberal promise of a secure future.
⚡ Effects Interpreter
🌍World Economymedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶The wider trading system tends to absorb shocks like this slowly.
- ▶Economies far from the headline can still catch the aftershocks.
🏙️Local Economylow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Apprenticeships and training schemes in the sector might be affected too.
- ▶The local labour market may feel a soft shift from this.
🏦Rates & Bankslow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Banks generally prefer a wait-and-see approach before touching their rates.
- ▶Fixed and variable borrowers alike may want to keep half an eye on this.
❤️Healthlow impact
What this means for you
- ▶Talking things through with family or friends can ease the load.
- ▶Community wellbeing might dip a touch while people wait for clarity.
💷Wealthmedium impact
What this means for you
- ▶Income protection cover, if you have it, is worth a second look.
- ▶Redundancy pay, where it applies, is worth understanding in full.
🏠Housinglow impact
What this means for you
- ▶House prices and rents are unlikely to shift the moment this news breaks.
- ▶Anyone mid-purchase might want to keep an eye on how this unfolds.
🌍 Effects for your country
The U.S.'s central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The U.S.'s economy is growing at 2.3% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the U.S.'s own central bank rate closely. With the U.S.'s unemployment at 4.4%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the U.S. depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UK's central bank rate currently stands at 3.75%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UK's economy is growing at 0.8% with inflation at 3.2%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UK's own central bank rate closely. With the UK's unemployment at 5.6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UK depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
France's central bank rate currently stands at 2%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. France's economy is growing at 0.9% with inflation at 1.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track France's own central bank rate closely. With France's unemployment at 7.9%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is already under strain. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in France depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
Romania's central bank rate currently stands at 6.5%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. Romania's economy is growing at 0.7% with inflation at 7.8%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track Romania's own central bank rate closely. With Romania's unemployment at 6%, personal-finance effects like this land on a labour market that is currently fairly stable. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in Romania depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.
The UAE's central bank rate currently stands at 3.65%, so a global rates move like this could feed through to local borrowing costs. The UAE's economy is growing at 3.1% with inflation at 2.5%, the backdrop this story's effects play out against locally. Housing-market effects like this are usually felt most where mortgage rates track the UAE's own central bank rate closely. Health-system effects are harder to localise from economic indicators alone — the real impact in the UAE depends more on local healthcare capacity than the figures above.