Gen Z films workdays for TikTok, sparks safety fears
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — A new trend is emerging from cubicles and open-plan offices worldwide: Gen Z employees are filming their mundane workdays for social media, transforming routine tasks into video content.
According to Fortune, while this practice offers a new income stream and a form of digital career branding, it raises significant concerns about workplace privacy, data security, and the potential violation of corporate policies.
Office life becomes TikTok content
Gen Z is leveraging the inherent monotony of office life to build substantial online followings and generate significant side income.
Content creators are recording the most ordinary things, such as eating their lunch at their workstations or typing at their workstations, with titles such as “What I ate during my 9 to 5,” amassing hundreds of thousands, even millions, of hits.
The trend is relatable and appeals by presenting an idealized yet familiar everyday routine of many people in the audience.
The motivation extends beyond virality to tangible financial gain and career building. A Glassdoor-Harris poll found that 57% of Gen Z employees maintain a side hustle.
Sponsored TikTok posts offer a clear incentive, with the average video earning $2,700 and macro-influencers commanding between $5,000 and $10,000 per post.
For some, like creator @Loewhaley, this side activity has evolved into a primary career, resulting in 4 million followers and paid partnerships with major brands like Canva and Microsoft.
Videos raise privacy and job security risks
This changed type of workplace documentation causes extreme threats to security and confidentiality. According to experts, the workplace recording may unknowingly reveal sensitive data, including internal operations, client information, or co-workers, without their knowledge, and risk workplace safety.
One example cited is that of a TikTok creator who was allegedly fired following an upload of a “come to work with me” video in which restricted zones and cash-handling protocols were depicted, an activity viewers branded a “colossal security breach.”
Consequently, this trend creates a potential clash between employee expression and employer obligations.
“Most employees are bound by written contracts, workplace policies, or non-disclosure agreements,” stated the law firm. “Recording internal processes, client interactions, or colleagues without consent may violate these obligations.”
To curb such emerging risks, law firms such as Greenwood Law advise employers to actively revise their workplace policies to specifically address social media usage and remind employees of the requirement for confidentiality at all times.
