The word influencer wasn't added to some dictionaries until 2019, and yet, according to at least one survey, a quarter of all Gen Zers say they plan to become social media influencers. A whole industry has developed to serve them. There are now training courses, influencer agents and conferences. So, how did a generation of people get the idea that they could make money filming themselves? And is it really a viable career path?

Today on The Sunday Story, Wailin Wong, a reporter and co-host of NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money podcast, helps us unravel the intricacies of the influencer economy and what it takes to succeed.

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