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7 July 2025 – A growing number of social media creators are reporting severe burnout, driven by the relentless pace of content production, lack of workplace structure, and the emotional toll of monetizing personal lives. According to a recent survey of 1,000 creators in the U.S. and UK, 50% have experienced burnout, and 37% have considered quitting altogether.
The pressure to remain constantly visible and relevant online has led many creators to scale back. Irish YouTuber Melanie Murphy, who has over 800,000 followers, revealed she reduced her workload and income by $20,000 following a mental health breakdown.
“You can’t pause the internet,” Murphy said, reflecting on the difficulty of stepping away from a platform that never sleeps.
📱 The Creator Economy’s Hidden Costs
Creators are expected to juggle:
- Content production
- Brand partnerships
- Audience engagement
- Self-promotion across platforms
This workload often lacks the support systems found in traditional employment, such as paid leave, HR resources, or mental health benefits. A separate study by Later found that 43% of creators experience burnout monthly or quarterly, while 29% struggle with it weekly or daily.
🧘 Coping Strategies and Industry Response
To manage stress, creators report using:
- Time off (98%)
- Exercise routines (93%)
- Task delegation (63%)
- Mental health support (42%)
Despite rising awareness, many say platforms and brands have yet to offer meaningful structural support. Experts warn that without intervention, burnout could undermine the sustainability of the creator economy.
For more insights, see Later’s Creator Mental Health Report and ZDNet’s analysis of creator stress.
