Teens are keen to embrace more creative roles (Image: Will Ireland/PinPep/SWNS)
A growing divide is leaving families at odds when it comes to job ambitions, with parents and their children clashing over future prospects, new research indicates.
The recent study shows many young people are gravitating toward tech-driven or creative roles that their parents may not fully understand.
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The study revealed that while parents lean toward established professions, children are inspired by modern, digital careers. Top choices among young people included video game design, software development, and content creation.
Nearly three-quarters of young people aged 11-17 said being online has opened their eyes to new career opportunities, yet they feel their parents don’t take these aspirations seriously.
Over two thirds of mums and dads view such paths as precarious, dubbing them “unstable career choices.”
Commissioned by mobile giant EE, the study forms part of a broader aim to support youthful passions. EE has teamed up with BAFTA, giving teens tangible experience in the creative sector.
An EE representative asserted, “We are on a mission to help parents and their children connect the dots between their teen’s curiosities and their next steps.”
They are jointly launching a campaign, which encourages teenagers aged 15 to 17 to apply for an opportunity to take on crew roles in storytelling, production, and directing for a short film set to be released in 2026.
BAFTA-nominated actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, along with an award-winning crew, will mentor the budding filmmakers, assisting them in bringing their stories to life.
Daisy Edgar Jones and an award-winning crew will mentor teens as part of the ‘Set the Stage’ campaign (Image: Will Ireland/PinPep/SWNS)
Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE, an award-winning broadcaster and 2024 BAFTA Fellowship honouree, spoke about the programme.
“Growing up with phones isn’t easy,” she stated, “but when teens are consuming social content, playing video games, and exploring the arts, they gain many creative skills.
“It’s important to connect these skills to future opportunities and encourage the next generation to explore their interests in filmmaking.”
But it’s not all negative, eight in 10 parents recognise that their children have developed valuable soft skills, such as creativity, socialising, and empathy, through gaming, social media, and digital platforms.
Furthermore, another eight out of 10 parents believe their youngsters have acquired valuable ‘hard skills’ through engaging with technology, including coding, problem-solving, and digital literacy.
A spokesperson from EE stated: “Whether their interests lie in makeup, fashion, performance, or production, we want to inspire the next generation to follow their passions, explore their curiosities, and transform them into meaningful careers.”
The deadline for applications for the programme is 25th April 2025.