In this day in age, we all can name a handful of celebrities or “influencers” who have had an effect on our lives, whether that be on our clothing, skincare products, food, or lifestyle. It is safe to say these people have their fan bases in a chokehold — if they buy something, so will we. Because, after all, who doesn’t want to dress like their favorite TikToker, and who doesn’t want their skin to glow like their favorite makeup artist?
As we observe the grip these people have on the way many members of Generation Z are living, it raises the question of what else they can alter or effect. Sure, it’s fun to watch celebs do unboxings, sing in concerts, and go on a talk show, but it is also important to consider what else these people can be doing with their platforms. With millions of followers, celebrities can and should use their influence to encourage their fanbase to be politically active, and to broaden their understanding of the upcoming election.
Everybody knows that Taylor Swift is an icon of this generation. After generating millions from her Eras Tour, she is on the top of all music charts, and is also watched like a hawk: whether that be on a date with her boyfriend, at her producer’s NJ wedding, or simply in the audience of an awards show. People worship her, meaning they also value her thoughts and opinions to a large extent.
On the night of the most recent Presidential Debate, viewers around America were riled up over their preferred candidate, but also, many viewers who originally were undecided voters were left conflicted. Leave it to Swift.
Within 10 minutes of her Instagram post endorsing Kamala Harris, Swift’s post had over 1 million likes. Different from her usual neon-lit concert photos or red carpet shots, Taylor posted a photo of her and her cat, with a lengthy caption on why she’d cast her vote for Harris, and encouraging her followers that “[their] research is [theirs] to do, and the choice is yours to make.” Taylor put instructions on how her followers could register to vote in the caption — within 24 hours, over 400,000 people visited the site, meaning likely many people finally registered.
This instance was incredibly similar to her endorsement of Democrat Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives in 2018. Through an Instagram post, Swift broke her previous political silence, and took the internet by storm while doing so. While the Republican candidate ended up winning the election, Swift has continued to endorse political figures and has encouraged her fan base to exercise their right and vote.
Swift’s endorsement and its effect goes to show that our favorite influencers hold more power than just shopping tips, life advice, and vlogs — they can essentially change election results if their power is used right. With that being said, it is important to not pressure your favorite celebs to endorse someone; it is completely up to them, and arguably more important that they simply advocate to vote, not specifically who to vote for.
