Also written by Ian Flanagan
Even before quarantine, people have been investing in their own creative talents and sharing (even selling) online. However, there was a big boom of activity during COVID isolation that still continues to inspire anybody and everybody to do what they love and make money off of it.
TikTok is no doubt the first thing to think about since it’s such a diverse congregation of talent and skill. Other apps/sites like Etsy and Twitch have made an appearance for more specific crowds. Gamers, artists, and creators can build a consumer audience more tuned to their interests.
Cody Jacobs, a freshman, comments about his experience on Twitch—a popular streaming platform for creative content.
”While it’s something I enjoy, it takes a lot of dedication and time,”
Online income (especially for younger, more technical-adapt people) has become an actual option largely due to the amount of time we’ve been spending at home. COVID has greatly influenced a multitude of things, but how and where people choose to use their talents is something it’s definitely contributed to.
Another person who cleverly uses their skills for a profit is senior Abby Sawicki who has been crocheting her whole life. Abby uses eBay to sell copious amounts of handmade arts and crafts. Such as purses, stuffed animals, and earrings.
It started in 2020 when her friends saw her making small crochet bees and said that they would pay money for them. She started by selling them around school and it gradually turned into what is now her eBay page “The Hoppin’ Frog”.
Her dad helped her set it up in November and grew to Amigurumi keychains and making custom idioms. Abby suggests that other people try and do something similar.