07-10-2024POV
The college-to-corporate pipeline is facing extinction. Here’s why
Gen Zers are rejecting thankless corporate jobs and stifling college debt—and embracing the internet economy, this Gen Z cofounder says. His new venture, Whop, helps aspiring online entrepreneurs.
[Source Illustration: Getty Images]
BY Steven Schwartz5 minute read
A third of Gen Z is skipping college before joining the workforce—and opportunities in the internet economy are a major reason why. It’s an inflection point that decades of corporate dread have been building toward.
As the first generation to be raised by the internet, Gen Z didn’t spend our childhoods outside—we spent them online. We exchanged ideas and connected with one another over chatbots long before we learned how to prepare for an interview or apply for a job. We participated in makeshift economies in virtual games long before we opened a bank account or submitted a summer job application.
Our comfort in exploring the internet is why we don’t feel tied to traditional models of work and life that kept people busy for decades—especially as burnout, low wages, and debt continue to dominate headlines post-pandemic. For Gen Z (and the generations to come) inheriting this new reality, the question has evolved from “Where should I apply to college?” to “How can I make money online?”
The rousing generational shift is bound to shape the future of work and our economy in ways we’re just starting to uncover.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steven Schwartz (@cultured) is the CEO and cofounder of Whop. Steven has a background in engineering and has been building internet companies and selling digital products since he was 13. More
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