CHarles Bahr has been 20 for a few days and has actually played through his professional life. He has founded and exited start-ups. He worked for the tech giant Tiktok for a year and a half until November and is currently in a legal dispute with the Chinese social media group, divulging unpleasant internal information and is quite a risk for the controversial platform. He has been working for an established advertising agency for a few weeks now. Others his age are years away from sending out the first application. Charles Bahr’s career already has more twists and turns than an average career path up to retirement.
Much about Bahr is contradictory. He seems shy, reserved, almost tender when you meet him – and yet he seeks publicity with power. He posts selfies with the then “Bild” editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt – and is happy about his sacking. He makes weekend trips to Nice, likes to fly in a private jet – and is a member of the SPD. He is friends with influencers – and reports how Tiktok consumption affects him mentally. He eats dinner with politicians – and still lives with his mother. Although that could change in the near future, he says. His mother is opposed to vaccination, Bahr publishes Tiktok videos in which he calls for vaccination. Years ago, he argued with his father in court because he didn’t support him and insisted that his son do his high school diploma.