'Beats A Newspaper Route' – Mark Cuban Explains Why 12th Graders Care More About Making Money Than Any Generation In 50 Years

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban recently weighed in on a surprising trend: today’s 12th graders care more about making money than any generation in the last 50 years. 

Responding to data shared by political data scientist David Shor, Cuban pointed out that it’s not a shock – many kids today are surrounded by peers making money from posting videos on social media. “Beats a newspaper route!” he quipped, referencing the traditional after-school job of past generations.

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The research, conducted by John Burns Research and Consulting and tracking U.S. 12th graders over decades, shows a notable rise in the percentage of teens who say money is “extremely important.” In 2022, 36% of respondents gave this answer – a significant jump from the relatively flat numbers in prior decades. So, why the shift?

Economic Anxiety Driving the Change

While Cuban focused on the appeal of social media income, many argue the issue goes deeper. Teens today are growing up in a world where living costs are soaring and basic survival often feels tied to financial stability.

One commenter asked, “Do they care because they care about money or because it's harder and harder to make ends meet and they have no other option for survival?” Others agreed, saying that high costs for housing, health care and education are pushing teens to focus more on money.

Another observer called it out as a symptom of anxiety: "Maybe because they are learning that just to survive they have to make as much money as they can."

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The Social Media Influence

Cuban's comment about social media highlights another factor. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok have glamorized the idea of earning money online, whether through content creation, streaming or brand sponsorships. Becoming an influencer has replaced older career aspirations. In fact, surveys show that “social media star” is now one of the most common dream jobs for teens.

"They want to be the things society is showing them we value," one commenter noted. And society's signals are evident – wealth and success, often showcased by influencers, are at the top of the list.

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A Vicious Cycle of Inequality

Some people responding to Cuban's take talked about the bigger problems behind this change. One person said that growing unfairness in sharing wealth makes people focus on money more than anything else. "They just watched a billionaire buy the country with zero repercussions. This is more a sign that we are sending the wrong signals by allowing the 1% to do whatever they want to the 99%."

"They care about money more than the most important resource they own = their time," another commenter said.

While Cuban's lighthearted comment highlights the appeal of social media success, the bigger picture is far more complex.

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