Are Gen Z’s Hobbies for Fun or Branding?

Ever since COVID-19 restrictions began easing, many of the young people I follow on social media, especially members of Gen Z, have picked up new hobbies or returned to old ones and made them part of their online brands. In this age of technology and screens, when people can doomscroll endlessly, it’s no wonder Gen Z has decided to do more with their lives than remain glued to their phones. They pursue hobbies, old or new, that sometimes become part of their online brands—either because they are doing them for fun or because they hope to generate some sort of income.

Pursuing or Rediscovering Hobbies

Hobbies can make us feel happy and fulfilled when reality hits us hard. What I’ve noticed since COVID is that people have been rebuilding themselves and getting their lives back on track by taking some time away from being online. Then, they come back by showcasing their new Etsy shops filled with crafts they made or sharing their new sports, like boxing or marathon running. In my opinion, based on what I’ve seen, people pursue their hobbies more for enjoyment than for their personal brands. Showing off their hobbies allows them to share how much they enjoy what they do.

From my personal experience as an older member of Gen Z, hobbies are important to me because they keep me sane outside of my nine-to-five job. Since graduating from graduate school and establishing a career in my field, I have continued some of the hobbies I had during college, including dance, volunteering, and writing, while also trying new ones, such as pageantry, modeling, and acting. Because I am interested in many things, I’ve established myself as a “multipotentialite” as part of my online brand and showcased that identity through social media. For me, these hobbies are for my own enjoyment and give me memories that I can look back on as I get older. However, I’ve also brought my many hobbies together under my “multipotentialite” brand to increase my audience and open myself up to more opportunities from people and brands that might want to work with me.

Hobbies as a Brand for Income and Fame

Of course, there are famous Gen Z content creators who have turned their hobbies into their brands or made them part of their brands. A couple of examples that come to mind are Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae, who both began by uploading videos of themselves dancing to trending sounds. Dance was a hobby they had pursued for years, and they made it part of their brands as they became more famous and began generating income. Even though both have evolved far beyond dancing, dance remains a part of who they are because it has been part of their lives from a young age.

Are Hobbies for Branding or for Enjoyment?

I would have to say that hobbies are more for enjoyment than for branding. Branding comes second. From my experience, I post about my hobbies more for the fun of it than to promote my brand as a “multipotentialite.” I’m showing my audience what I love to do and how much I enjoy doing it. I believe the same is true for many others. Gen Z wants to find personal enjoyment in hobbies that provide an escape from the harsh realities of the world, rather than pursue them only as a way to promote themselves online. Whether it’s baking, knitting, golfing, dancing, or anything else, members of Gen Z should be able to enjoy the hobbies they choose to pursue without pressure.