‘You can’t pause the internet’: social media creators hit by burnout

Sat, 05 Jul 2025

Their jobs are seen as glamorous but the new reality for many is workplace stress and ‘complete fatigue’

The life of a social media creator can be high in glamour and status. The well-paid endorsement deals, the online followers and proximity to the celebrity establishment are all perks of the industry.

But one hidden cost will be familiar to anyone coping with the 21st-century economy: burnout. The Guardian has spoken to five creators with a combined audience of millions who have all experienced degrees of workplace stress or fatigue.