What You Should Be Looking At If You Have a Teen at Home

When I think about the future, I don’t see doom—I see possibility. I see teens learning to collaborate, create, and thrive in spaces where machines can’t compete.

NEW YORK CITY. By Pablo Herrera. TMN Founder & CEO

For the last year, I’ve heard many parents worrying about their teens’ future. And not only parents—young people themselves are equally worried. Economic uncertainty, political turbulence, and social challenges make the road ahead unclear.

But here’s the thing: turbulent times also mean great opportunities. That’s why projects like Teens Media Network (TMN) matter—they are game changers.

Before diving into the five points, let me explain why I see a bright future for families and young people willing to let go of the old system—long and expensive higher degrees that don’t translate into jobs, outdated education models that ignore how each person learns differently, and the mistaken belief that a predictable future is the only path to success.

I may understand this more easily because I grew up in Argentina, a country in permanent crisis. One of the best things I experienced was public university. It didn’t give me a job (it was holistic, not practical), but it taught me that predictability is an illusion. That skill—navigating uncertainty—allowed me to live in three countries, start a nonprofit in Barcelona, and later move to New York to reinvent myself.

Here’s the key lesson: hyper-specialization is outdated. In a world shaped by AI, flexibility and human creativity are the new currency. Too many adults today resist change, clinging to roles AI is already reshaping. Instead, youth need to learn how to adapt, collaborate, and create.

That’s why I built TMN. And here are five reasons you should rethink your teen’s future:

1. Human skills > data accumulation

Young people don’t need more lectures or memorized data—they need the skills machines can’t replicate: communication, storytelling, teamwork, and empathy. These are the skills that open doors, yet traditional universities rarely teach them.

2. Mentors > lectures

AI can deliver a lecture better than any professor. What teens need are mentors—experienced guides who work alongside them, not above them. At TMN, creators learn by collaborating with mentors in real projects, not sitting in classrooms.

3. Embrace AI, don’t fear it

AI isn’t the enemy. Just like television didn’t kill creativity, AI won’t kill human work. Instead of wasting time complaining, we should prepare the next generation to use AI meaningfully—as a tool to amplify their creativity, not replace it. That’s exactly what we do at TMN.

4. Rethink “social media”

Social media isn’t just TikTok or Instagram—it’s YouTube, Substack, Reddit, even Google. These are today’s media outlets, and the line between traditional media and creators is disappearing. The opportunity for youth is massive if they learn to navigate and thrive in these spaces.

5. The creator economy is booming

The creator economy is projected to double in the next five years. Yes, AI will flood the internet with auto-generated content, but that only makes room for authentic human creators—those who can tell stories, build communities, and inspire others.

When I think about the future, I don’t see doom—I see possibility. I see teens learning to collaborate, create, and thrive in spaces where machines can’t compete. I see a new generation ready to lead, if we give them the right tools.

That’s what we’re doing at TMN. On October 1st, I’ll be sharing more about how we prepare young people with the confidence, skills, and real-world experience they need.

👉 If you have a teen at home, I invite you to join our upcoming parent info session on October 1st to learn more about how we do it. RSVP here!