Is “I Want to Be An Influencer” the “I Want To Be An Art Major" Loser of the 1970s?

Dear Suze Q., We want to fund our 15-year-old granddaughter’s college, but she almost killed her grandmother and me when she said she wanted to be an “influencer.” 

Dear Grandpa, Gen Z children grew up digitally savvy, in an interconnected world where you can do anything and talk to anyone 24/7. But, their maturity, subject knowledge, and experience varies widely like every other human being, and that’s what will make or break them in the real world. MANY companies offer an “Influencer” certification for a few hundred bucks, and a handful of on-line “classes.” The legitimacy of an “influencer” is still questionable, and the liability of harm to the customer can be incalculable. However, REAL schools ((U.C. Davis, Duke, USC, Cornell, Tulane, etc),  have legitimized “influencer” studies with serious degrees leading to a viable career path. Make your funds conditional on approving her school and curriculum, and that she maintain a certain course load and GPA. That way you can give her the best head start in a very competitive and often unscrupulous field. -SQ