How to Make Money Online as a Teenager

Earning money online can be a great experience for teenagers as it provides them with the opportunity to make their own money and develop important skills. However, it's important to highlight that there are several key factors to keep in mind before diving into the world of online earning.

Firstly, legal regulations play a crucial role in determining how teenagers can work and what they can do online. Depending on the state or region, age restrictions may vary, so it's essential to check local laws and regulations to know the minimum age required for specific types of work. Additionally, parents should be aware of their children's online activities to provide support and ensure their safety.

Secondly, it's important to learn how to avoid scams. There are numerous websites and offers that promise quick and easy earnings but may turn out to be fraudulent. Teenagers need to develop critical thinking skills and learn to recognize signs of scams, such as unrealistically high earnings without putting in any effort or requests for personal and financial information.

Furthermore, cultivating a responsible attitude towards money is essential. This entails managing earned income properly, saving, and setting financial goals. Online earning opportunities can provide a chance to learn about financial literacy and responsibility. In the upcoming sections of this article, we will explore various ways in which teenagers can earn money online while adhering to legal regulations, with the support of their parents, and with a focus on safety and responsibility.

1. Take pictures with your phone for money

Taking photos with a mobile phone is one of the simplest ways for teenagers to earn money online. Mobile phone cameras are getting better all the time, so nowadays, on platforms like Shutterstock, Getty, or Foap, you can upload photos you've taken with your phone. Of course, these photos must be of high quality, and for that, you'll need to have at least some basic knowledge about photography, such as composition and subject matter.

First, create a portfolio of your work, and then set up an account on one of the photo-selling platforms. Additionally, you can sell them through your website or on social media. We would also advise you to inquire about copyright and licensing (especially if you'll be collaborating with models) to ensure that you are selling photos in a legal manner.

While suitable for beginners, there's significant competition in the industry. But with creativity, effort, and talent, your hard work will certainly pay off!

• Earning potential: 3/10
• Ease of entry: 9/10
• Difficulty: 3/10
• Flexibility: 9/10

2. Play & stream video games

If you love playing games, consider streaming while you play. If you're already a gamer, you likely have a decent computer and a stable internet connection, but you'll also need a webcam and a microphone. The most natural entry point for game streaming is Twitch. In addition to Twitch, there are also YouTube Gaming, Bigo Live, and plenty of other platforms that offer similar services.

When it comes to earning money, there are several ways you can make money as a streamer. First and foremost are donations from your followers. On Twitch, your followers can donate money through various platforms like Streamlabs, StreamElements, or Twitch Bits. Of course, there's also the popular Patreon.

If you gather a large number of followers, you might attract sponsorships and collaborate with various brands. You can participate in the affiliate programs of different brands, and you can also sell your own products (for example, your own merchandise). And the best part is that you'll be making money from home while having a great time!

• Earning potential: 8/10
• Ease of entry: 7/10
• Difficulty: 8/10
• Flexibility: 8/10

3. Data entry

If you excel in accuracy, meticulousness, speed, and organization, and you're proficient in word processing and spreadsheet programs like Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel, consider earning a few dollars by doing data entry.

Data entry work involves inputting text, numbers, statistical information, addresses, and verifying data accuracy, as well as organizing data into categories. It's important for this job that you are precise and can type quickly. Additionally, being highly organized will be beneficial, as you may handle large volumes of data.

You can find data entry opportunities on freelance platforms such as Fiverr, Freelancer, and Upwork.

• Earning potential: 5/10
• Ease of entry: 7/10
• Difficulty: 5/10
• Flexibility: 6/10

4. Make money on Recommend

Recommend offers some cool money-making opportunities, that can be used by teenagers as well as by adults. Within our referral program, you can earn money by sharing things you like. Besides that, you can open your own shop and put all of your favorite things in it. Later on, you can share the link to a shop across the various social media platforms, and earn a commission every time someone buys something from your virtual store!

If you are a content creator or an aspiring content creator, Recommend offers a wide variety of choices to grow your community base, such as Recommend Trends and Boards. We enable you to reuse your old content and inspire your community to a new and better shopping decisions on a daily basis!

• Earning potential: 8/10
• Ease of entry: 9/10
• Difficulty: 3/10
• Flexibility: 9/10

5. Test games

Just like with earning through game streaming, game testing can be an excellent way to make some money while doing what you love. In addition to playing games, you'll be expected to find and document bugs, test various aspects of the game, monitor game performance, and, of course, evaluate the overall gaming experience.

When it comes to finding opportunities, keep in mind that many companies, including platforms like Steam, are in search of beta testers. You can also test free games or open-source games, and for mobile games, there are platforms like PlaytestCloud.

• Earning potential: 4/10
• Ease of entry: 6/10
• Difficulty: 3/10
• Flexibility: 7/10

6. Watch ads for money

Watching ads for money is undeniably one of the simplest ways teenagers can earn money. It's important to note that this method won't make you rich, but it can certainly boost your pocket money.

Similar to various other jobs, there are more or less specialized platforms for this job. Swagbucks, for instance, is a platform that offers rewards for various activities, with watching ads being just one of them. By watching ads on Swagbucks, you earn points that you can later exchange for gift cards or cash. In addition to Swagbucks, there are also platforms like InboxDollars and YSense, to name a few.

After registering on the platform, you'll receive information about available ads. Once you accumulate a certain number of points, you'll be able to request a payout or exchange the points for gift cards.

• Earning potential: 2/10
• Ease of entry: 8/10
• Difficulty: 1/10
• Flexibility: 8/10

7. Surveys

Most people don't enjoy being called by research agencies for surveys. However, many wouldn't mind if they were paid for taking surveys. That's precisely what platforms like Vindale Research, Toluna, and Pinecone Research offer. On these websites, you can earn money by filling out surveys!

During registration, you'll need to provide basic information about yourself so that the research agency can understand your demographic group, where you live, your hobbies, and more. Based on this data, they will offer you surveys to complete. Your earnings will depend on the number and length of surveys you complete, with compensation ranging from a few cents to a few dollars per survey.

• Earning potential: 2/10
• Ease of entry: 8/10
• Difficulty: 1/10
• Flexibility: 9/10

8. Test websites

Web usability testing (or web testing) involves, you guessed it, testing websites and applications to uncover user experience flaws or general errors. You'll be expected to be precise and provide honest and detailed feedback.

As for the platforms for web testing, perhaps the most popular one is UserTesting. There are also others like TesterWork, Trymata, and more. After registering, the platform will provide you with information about available tests. While testing the app, you'll need to perform specific tasks. During this time, the platform will record your behavior within the app, as well as comments where you talk about the testing process and the use of the application.

If you have decent technical skills, a keen eye, and the ability to identify and articulate issues, this could be an excellent job for you!

• Earning potential: 3/10
• Ease of entry: 8/10
• Difficulty: 4/10
• Flexibility: 8/10

9. Become an influencer

We've already written about how to earn as an influencer, and we dedicated a special article to micro-influencers. Here, we would just like to point out that the influencer profession can be very fulfilling and can bring in decent earnings. For this job, you'll need a creative approach to content creation, excellent communication skills, and the ability to edit videos or photos. Furthermore, you should know a thing or two about social media (TikTok and Pinterest, for example) and promotion, and it's important to learn how to plan for the long term and strategically.

• Earning potential: 7/10
• Ease of entry: 6/10
• Difficulty: 6/10
• Flexibility: 7/10

10. Paid remote internship

If you're looking for both earnings and work experience, consider applying for a paid remote internship. The first step, of course, is to find an online internship. The advice we can offer here is that the internet is your friend. You can Google what interests you or you can join groups dedicated to internships. There are some platforms that connect students with companies offering internships, such as Internships.com, Chegg Internships, WayUp, and be sure to check out Remote.co. Additionally, we advise you to create a profile on LinkedIn.

After the application process, you'll have an interview, and if everything goes well, you'll receive an internship offer. As for earnings, it can vary significantly from company to company. Some firms offer interns a minimum wage, while others provide competitive salaries. Your pay will also depend on your knowledge and skills.

• Earning potential: 7/10
• Ease of entry: 4/10
• Difficulty: 6/10
• Flexibility: 3/10

11. E-commerce reselling

The e-commerce reselling business model is another excellent way for teenagers to earn money online. In this business, the seller purchases products at a lower price, typically from a wholesaler or an online store, and then sells them at a higher price. Additionally, the entire process is technically feasible today because you can easily set up an online shop using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce.

The first step in e-commerce reselling is market research and selecting what you want to sell. This means identifying trends and considering the supply and demand relationship, target customers, and competition. Next comes sourcing the products, which you can buy on platforms like Alibaba or AliExpress, or directly from manufacturers. Finally, you need to create your webshop, and you can also sell on platforms such as eBay, Amazon, or Etsy.

• Earning potential: 6/10
• Ease of entry: 7/10
• Difficulty: 5/10
• Flexibility: 8/10

12. Review songs

If you love music, have an ear for it, and know how to articulate what you like or dislike about a song, you can earn money by reviewing songs. We would mention three platforms that offer this opportunity: SoundCampaign, PlaylistPush, and Slicethepie.

SoundCampaign connects musicians with reviewers and influencers. The way it works is that musicians send their work to the platform, and reviewers and influencers can sign up to review it. Payment usually depends on an agreement between the musician and the reviewer.

PlaylistPush operates on a slightly different principle. Musicians can pay PlaylistPush to promote their songs through various playlists, and curators who create playlists can listen to and rate music while curating their playlists. Payment typically depends on the number of playlists and streaming hours.

On Slicethepie, you will receive a certain amount for each review you write. The price of the review depends on its quality and length.

• Earning potential: 3/10
• Ease of entry: 6/10
• Difficulty: 4/10
• Flexibility: 8/10

13. Start vlogging

Earning money through vlogging is one of the more challenging ideas on our list. However, if you work diligently, create good content, and attract a loyal audience, you can earn very well.

To start, it's important to choose a topic that you are deeply passionate about. You won't be able to create quality content if you have no passion for the topic. Travel, cooking, product reviews, gaming, or makeup tips are just some of the possible topics. Once you've chosen your topic, it will be easier to define the audience you are addressing.

Having the right equipment is crucial for vlogging. A good camera and microphone are a must, and as you grow, you can consider other elements such as lighting. When everything is ready, and you have your first piece of content, it's up to you to decide which platforms to use. YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook, and Vimeo are some popular options.

As for monetization, each platform has its specific rules. Among the general options, we can highlight Google AdSense, where earnings are based on the number of views and clicks on ads displayed on your videos. There are also affiliate programs, sponsorships, partnerships, direct sales, and donations.

• Earning potential: 7/10
• Ease of entry: 6/10
• Difficulty: 7/10
• Flexibility: 8/10

14. App development

You can code and you also have a great idea for an app? Awesome! Use your programming skills, develop the app, and earn money! The stages of app development include, in addition to the idea and coding itself, testing, optimization, design, and publishing. You can publish the app on the App Store and the Play Store . You can set a specific price for downloading the app, but you can also choose other monetization options such as microtransactions or in-app advertising.

Keep in mind that you will need to regularly maintain the app. Additionally, it's important to monitor analytics to understand how users are using the app, which will give you ideas on how to improve it.

• Earning potential: 9/10
• Ease of entry: 4/10
• Difficulty: 8/10
• Flexibility: 8/10