The future belongs to creators

In the next few decades, I predict we’re going to see an even bigger wealth and class divide than we do today, not just between rich and poor, but between creators and consumers.

Now, “creator” doesn’t just mean someone dancing on TikTok or a YouTuber with 10 million subscribers. A creator is anyone who builds something; business owners, writers, developers, coaches, designers. It’s about producing value rather than just absorbing it. And on the other side? Consumers. Of course, we all consume. Even the top 1% scroll, binge, or shop. But the difference is ratio. Most people are trapped in endless consumption with phones glued to palms, nicotine vapes within reach, Uber Eats on repeat, TikTok Shop one-click checkouts like breathing. The IV drip of consumption has become the default human condition.

And here’s where it gets dark. In the dystopian novel Brave New World, published by Aldous Huxley in 1932, people weren’t controlled by violence; they were pacified by pleasure: entertainment, distraction, and shallow dopamine loops. That’s not a sci-fi future anymore; it’s now. And if you’re not careful, the algorithm becomes your master, your boss, your god.

So when famous investor and thinker, Naval Ravikant said, “There are almost 7 billion people on this planet. Someday, I hope, there will be almost 7 billion companies,” it wasn’t a casual comment. It was a map for survival. Because if you’re not building, you’re just scrolling. If you’re not creating, you’re just consuming. And that difference will matter more than ever in the decades to come.

Now, I hear the objections:

All valid points but let’s unpack them.

First, not everyone needs to be an “influencer”. Forget going viral. You don’t need 50,000 followers. You don’t need brand deals. All you need is an audience of just 3,000 people who trust you enough to pay £1 a month. That’s £3,000. For some, that’s a wage. Of course that’s just an example, in practice it’s very difficult. I haven’t even started monetising my Substack as I know the miles I have to put it first. However, those thinking that monteising online is purely down to followers really have only touched the surface of knowing what’s out there. 3,000 people invested in you is achievable for anyone who’s consistent, valuable, and willing to niche down.

Second, yes, society needs teachers, nurses, and researchers. But even they can also be creators. The teacher who shares lesson plans online and monetises a membership site? Creator. The nurse who documents healthcare tips for students? Creator. The researcher who publishes niche insights on Substack? Creator. Being a “creator” doesn’t replace your job, it amplifies it, protects you from stagnation, and gives you optionality.

Finally, the ethical critique. The fact that most won’t is exactly why the few who do will dominate the next economic era. My favourite creator ever, Dan Koe makes a great point; by thinking you are virtuous because you refuse to create a platform or business, you leave the space wide open for the massive, unethical corporations to take over. If you don’t step in, they will. That’s why I think there’s actually a moral obligation to create.

Take me for example: I never thought I would have the confidence to put myself out there. I grew up shy, insecure in my teens, and hesitant to share my thoughts. Fast forward to now, and social media has become my full-time job. That transformation only happened because I took the leap—allowing myself to be judged, misunderstood, or even laughed at.

I’ve also met a few individuals who embody this creator mindset. At a modelling shoot, I met a mature model who had spent the last 20 years as an executive assistant before gaining autonomy later in life. She became a personal trainer and then set up a home gym hosting clients, while continuing to model on the side. She had transitioned from consumer to creator, taking full control of her earning potential and lifestyle.

I also met an English mathematics teacher, broadcaster, and writer. Coming from a less privileged background, he went to Oxbridge, appeared on television, and published books. He’s living proof that creation isn’t limited by background—you can combine passion, skill, and opportunity into a diverse, fulfilling career. In an animated conversation, he shared a quote by Thomas Edison:

It was a reminder that success rarely comes from luck alone, it comes from consistent action, effort, and courage to create. These examples are recent in-person examples but there are endless case studies of people turning their life around from social media or creation in general.

Think about how quickly this has moved. Facebook status updates. Then blogs. Then YouTube. Now 7-second videos on infinite loops. Every shift gave creators new leverage—and every shift left another wave of people behind.

We are living through the biggest democratisation of earning potential in history. A smartphone is now a graphic design studio, a film studio, a global storefront. And yet, most people are still acting like it’s just a slot machine for dopamine.

Here’s the morbid picture:

A future where the majority are hooked to their devices, consuming 12 hours a day, with their spending patterns, diets, and even relationships dictated by algorithms. That’s the new working class. They don’t even realise they’re enslaved, because the chains are invisible. And they laugh at the ones who try to build something on the side.

And here’s the alternative:

A future where more people take the uncomfortable, uncertain road of creating. Where you build leverage around your ideas, skills, and reputation. Where you use the same platforms designed to addict you, but instead of consuming, you’re producing.

More people will regret not starting sooner — because the window is closing. Competition compounds, platforms mature, and grabbing attention gets harder every year. What looks like a crowded space today? In 10 years, it’ll feel like an impenetrable fortress. You can start anytime, sure, but the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to break free from a consumer mindset and actually create.

When I started, I asked myself: why should my time be worth £12 an hour when it could be £4,000? It wasn’t entitlement — it was clarity. If I could earn elsewhere, there was no virtue in staying stuck in something harder that held me back from my potential. And right now, the creator economy is the only arena where the average person can realistically flip that script; no permission, no credentials, no gatekeepers.

So no, not everyone can be a creator. But everyone should try. Because if you don’t, the alternative isn’t neutrality. It’s not just “living your life.” The alternative is being trapped in a society of passive consumption, your agency siphoned off one click at a time.

Creators will own the future. Consumers will rent it. The only question is which side of that equation you want to be on.

Until next time,

Mia x

Founder of Frugal Chic

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