Amazing reason teens are rushing to TikTok and Instagram – are you missing out?

GEN Z are turning to TikTok and Instagram to learn new hobbies like creating pet portraits, roller skating and bubble nails – a fingernail art technique.

A survey of 1,500 18-25 year olds found that 72 percent were inspired to spark a new interest by watching clips on popular social media channels.

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53 percent of amateur athletes spend at least four hours a week watching them on their smartphone – a total of 208 hours a year.

Videos of yesteryear, such as ASMR, tie-dying, and ghost-hunting, have a loyal following among young adults.

As well as “how-to” clips featuring meditation, photography and extreme makeup.

It also turned out that four out of ten have gone behind the camera themselves to share their hobbies on social media.

The study was commissioned to coincide with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, whose spokeswoman Annika Bizon said: “After two years of various lockdowns in which our creativity could have been stifled, it’s no surprise to see an increase in the awesome and unconventional hobbies of this generation.

“This audience craves expression and is turning to social media like never before to view, create and share their content.”

Of those who post their own content related to their hobby on social media, 86 percent said it was well received.

So much so that her followers have increased by 21 percent.

Top motivators for sharing include showing off their new skills (26 percent), personal enjoyment (25 percent), and connecting with others (24 percent).

While 23 percent do it to learn new things.

A fifth said it took them three months to perfect their hobby content – to make sure followers would enjoy it.

And on average, content creators spend an average of four hours a week filming and editing to make sure they’re on point.

Because of their online popularity, 48 percent have even turned their social media accounts into a business venture.

Sophie Taylor, 27, from Norfolk, whose hobby is pet portraiture, did just that.

She said: “When everyone started getting a furry friend, I turned my artistic vein to drawing pets.

“I was immediately asked by friends and family to illustrate their pets and it turned into an online business that I could easily manage from my smartphone.”

Another Generation Z who has managed to make a living from her interest is 22-year-old Angel My Linh, a specialist nail artist from south-east London.

She said: “My content has really taken off with the growing community of followers and I’ve recently been asked to design nails for major artists Tems and Megan Thee Stallion which is amazing.”

Of those surveyed, four in ten said their interests were “great,” while 32 percent felt they were “underappreciated.”

Nearly a fifth of those polled via OnePoll believe their interest makes them feel “liberated,” and 37 percent said it makes them “proud.”

DeVante Walters, 27, from London, who is interested in urban roller skating, said: “I’ve always been passionate about roller skating, so I’ve used social platforms like TikTok to share my moves, tips and tricks – including dance routines.

“Above all, it’s so important to connect with others by inspiring them to get involved, find their inner talents, and have fun doing it.”

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