Former high school teacher Rebecca Rogers has transformed her classroom humor into a thriving career as a social media influencer, exemplifying the dynamic opportunities in today’s creator economy. With millions of followers across multiple platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Rebecca has successfully blended entertainment with social awareness, carving out a unique niche in the digital landscape.

Her journey into content creation began unexpectedly during the COVID-19 lockdowns when she sought ways to connect with her students virtually. “I never intended to become a content creator,” Rebecca says. “I was actually a high school social studies teacher.”

When traditional methods failed to engage her students during remote learning, she turned to TikTok. She allowed her students to create her handle and choose appropriate trends for her to participate in, initially as an inside joke among her classes.

Rebecca’s content evolved from skits about classroom anecdotes to addressing broader social issues through humor. “I do the funny haha skit, but also in a way [use] comedy to raise awareness about issues in the world,” she explains. Her approach to content creation combines entertainment with social awareness, resonating with audiences beyond her classroom community.

Despite her growing popularity, Rebecca remains grounded. She describes herself as a “chaotic ADHD-er with a camera” and values maintaining her authenticity. “I’m still just a chaotic ADHD-er with a camera,” the former teacher states. “I’m still my brother’s annoying sister. I’m still my parents’ rebellious daughter. I’m still my friend’s loyal companion.”

Confronting Imposter Syndrome in the World of Social Media Stardom

Rebecca faces challenges common to many content creators as she builds her career. Despite her massive following, she grapples with “imposter syndrome” and the sudden reality of her influence.

“I think a really big challenge that honestly, if a creator says they don’t deal with this, I don’t trust them, is imposter syndrome,” Rebecca admits. The teacher-turned-social media sensation describes the disconnect between her online presence and everyday life, saying, “Even though on the outside looking in, it’s like, oh my gosh, you’ve got millions and millions of people that follow you. But for me, on the inside, looking out, I’m just alone in my room with my cats.”

This perspective shift has forced Rebecca to confront the impact of her work. “Understanding that even though I feel like I’m alone in my room with my cats, talking to a camera all by myself, there are many people out there listening,” she explains. “So that’s a really big responsibility.”

Balancing Creativity and Business

As her platform grows, Rebecca has had to adapt to the business side of content creation. She acknowledges the difficulty in transitioning from a “give, give, give” mentality to recognizing the need to “take for yourself” in a professional context.

“When this is a business, it’s not just for fun; it is your livelihood,” Rebecca states. “That is a very difficult but important step that I think all creators at some point have to accept and acknowledge.”

She approaches her career as an ongoing journey rather than focusing on specific milestones. “For me, it’s all one big adventure,” the social media maven says. “I don’t necessarily want to put an emphasis on [influencing being] the one thing because then, to me, it’ll never get better than that.”

This perspective helps Rebecca navigate the inherent volatility of the content creation industry. She notes, “Sometimes your highs will last a year, and sometimes the lows will last months, and sometimes the highs will be a big high for a couple of weeks. It’s always going to be in waves.” As Rebecca progresses as a creator, she strives to maintain her authenticity while adapting to the demands of her growing platform. 

Rebecca at VidCon 2024: Embracing a Multi-Platform Strategy

VidCon, the annual convention for digital creators and influencers, began as a hub for YouTube enthusiasts and content creators on various online video platforms. Over the years, it has evolved to welcome various creators from social media giants like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch. The event boasts Creator tracks, live performances, interactive meet-ups, and more. This year, VidCon will take in Anaheim, California, from June 26-29.

As a featured creator at VidCon 2024, Rebecca is excited to share her insights on building a successful multi-platform presence and thus help fellow creators maximize their reach and potential income streams. 

Her panel, “DIVERSIFY & CONQUER: HARNESSING THE POWER OF MULTI-PLATFORM PRESENCE,” will take place on Saturday, June 29, 12:30 PM—1:15 PM (PT), in Room 210. It will also feature. 

Alongside Rebecca, the panel will also feature insights from fellow creators sydneyraz and WeRateDogs, each bringing unique expertise. She plans to focus on podcast ads and sponsorships, while her co-panelist will discuss membership and subscription models.

Rebecca emphasizes the importance of diversifying content across platforms. “The core audiences of each platform are all different people,” she explains. “If you’re not posting your content on every platform, you’re missing out on all of these core audiences that might be looking for you.”

This strategy has allowed Rebecca to connect with a broad demographic range. “I have a very big audience on Facebook. A lot of my audience on Facebook are boomers, which is fine, but many aren’t on TikTok or YouTube or Snapchat,” she notes. Conversely, the influencer points out that focusing solely on platforms like Snapchat would mean missing out on her older audience.

Beyond audience reach, Rebecca highlights the financial benefits of a multi-platform approach. “Every platform has different monetization,” she states. “If you’re incorporating ways to gain revenue from every different platform, you’re much more likely to be able to make this your occupation.”

Despite the business focus, Rebecca maintains a casual approach to VidCon. “I’m a very wing-it kind of person,” the seasoned content creator admits. “Because I feel like at the end of the day, even though this job is serious, it’s all about having fun.”

For her, VidCon represents more than just professional development. “My favorite part every year is just really getting to see my creator friends,” she says, highlighting the sense of community among content creators.

Self-Management and Safety: The Unseen Side of Content Creation

Rebecca offers candid insights into the less glamorous aspects of being a full-time content creator. While acknowledging the privilege of her position, she emphasizes the responsibilities and challenges that come with it.

“Being a content creator is not always the walk in the park that people sometimes genuinely believe it is,” Rebecca explains. She highlights the pressures of self-management, noting, “There’s no one to pick up the slack. There’s no one to remind you of deadlines.”

The social media star also addresses the financial instability of content creation. “It’s not like a regular job where every week there’s a paycheck,” she says. “If you just get lazy and don’t post content, you just don’t get that ad revenue.”

Rebecca also touches on the personal safety concerns that come with public visibility. “I’ve already had to move because people found my address before,” she reveals, underscoring the importance of privacy protection for creators.

For aspiring content creators, Rebecca offers encouragement tempered with realism. “The biggest obstacle that newer content creators face is themselves,” she states. Her advice is straightforward: “Ask the questions. Try your ideas. Put yourself out there.”

Rebecca’s goals remain focused on authenticity and enjoyment. “My only goal is to keep enjoying what I’m doing,” she says. “If I’m enjoying it, then other people are enjoying it, and that’s the goal.”