Top Tips for Teens to Make Money on Instagram

Any teenager who wants to go out and make some money for themselves will find a powerful ally in the mammoth social media platform we know as Instagram. Instagram has an ample supply of business and shopping tools that can really boost a teenager’s brand — be it personal or otherwise. Teens especially can benefit from this because of how attuned they are to the digital world. The relationship between teens and social media is a very co-dependent one, so it makes sense to extract monetary value from it. Today, teen Instagram users can express themselves and earn some cash at the same time, which seems like a win-win situation.

So here are 5 ways for teens to earn using Instagram:

1. Selling Digital Media

Digital art, poetry, and content are some of the most trendy commodities that are sold via Instagram. Teens that are interested in pursuing these as a hobby can go ahead and create an appealing page using visual tools like Canva. Gone are the days when only nobility could commission pieces from artists. Today, commissions have gained a lot in popularity and also pay handsomely. Instagram’s accessibility and reach democratise good content for teen creators.

2. Become an Influencer

Memes, reels, trends, Instagram’s got it all. This is an area where teen Instagrammers — with their inherent understanding of pop-culture and Gen-Z humour — have the advantage in and potential to become popular as teen influencers. While it is surely very tempting, the path is needless to say, cumbersome. If done right however, it is a great way to earn money through sponsorship deals in your teens.

3. Retail

Fashion, electronics, second-hand items, trinkets, baked goods, home items — opportunities abound for teenagers looking to sell items via Instagram. Teenagers who are eager to start their own small business will find that it is not only possible, but also fun to set up your own business page on Instagram. Since it is primarily a visual medium, doing promotion also heavily relies on how aesthetically appealing your product is.

4. Showcase your skills

If you’re a performing artist, writer, makeup aficionado, or generally creative soul, Instagram is a platform suited for you. Promoting through instagram is how many artists get discovered and get gigs! Professional headhunters are always scouring for young talent across many industries. Use it the platform to showcase your talents and you might be able to make money as a teen artist, writer, or performer.

5. Support Each Other

While this isn’t a direct income stream, it is nevertheless an important aspect of the Instagram lifestyle. You must be willing to share some space on your page for other teens  like you and start collaborating. What this does is give you a much larger audience and thus more potential for growth. This can also help expose you to brands or a larger network of well wishers, helping you find traction on the platform in your teens.


For more tips on how to build a community on Instagram don’t miss out on this post:

5 Instagram Community Building Tips for Teenagers
Looking to make Instagram your new hub? Here are 5 things to keep in mind.

There’s a lot teens can learn on Instagram if they use the platform well. For example, we put out a lot of great content for teens on personal finance on the Yodaa Instagram page. Give it a look when you have a moment.

And all the best for your Instagram journey!


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