Influencers believe making TikToks is harder than having a 9-5 job

It’s a question that often sparks debate: What’s harder – working a traditional 9-to-5 job or making a living as a TikTok creator?On the surface, it’s easy to assume that being a content creator is all fun and games.After all, doesn’t filming quick videos, vlogging your daily life or dancing in front of a camera sound like a dream in comparison to the daily grind in the office?Last night at the 2024 TikTok awards, where Australia’s top influencers and content creators gathered to celebrate the platform’s biggest stars, I put the question directly to them, and their answers varied … A LOT.Here’s what they had to say about the differences, challenges, and rewards of the two worlds – and why the “easier” path isn’t always as glitzy as it seems.With 7.6 million followers, conservationist and TV personality Robert Irwin (@robertirwin) says he tries to blend his 9-to-5 role at Australia Zoo with making his TikTok content.“They’re interconnected.If I’m out there and am about to go rescue a snake, I just set my camera up and film it and put it on TikTok,” he told news.com.au.“I try and keep it really run-and-gun and here, there and everywhere – the TikTok is just kind of part of it.“Anyone I’m with, I’m like, ‘Here, film this, I’m going to do something crazy’, and hopefully it’s a bit of inspiration for people to live life to the fullest and try and give back to our natural world.”Anna Paul (@anna..paull) who vlogs every day of her life to her 7.2 million followers, began her career in a surprising role.“Before TikTok, I was a YouTuber but before that, I was a ‘checkout chick’ at Woolies for five years,” she revealed.“Mentally, being a content creator is way harder, because you have to deal with the judgement.“But physically, standing for hours and hours and hours at the register is so hard.”Indy Clinton (@indyclinton) who shares the behind-the-scenes chaos of being a mom-of-three to her two million follow...