Social media influencers are now pivotal in electoral politics. These tastemakers, meme curators, video producers, and organizers wield significant influence, particularly in encouraging their followers to vote. This guide offers a visual and interactive exploration of influencers and content creators from across the political spectrum, revealing how their audiences compare and their connections to the 2024 election.
This compilation includes familiar figures and emerging voices. The internet landscape has become increasingly fragmented since the 2020 election. Social media algorithms curate personalized feeds, creating echo chambers. This guide highlights key political players across diverse online communities.
The size of each influencer’s bubble reflects their follower count on their primary social media platform. Many boast large audiences across multiple platforms. Interacting with each bubble provides detailed audience breakdowns.
This selection represents a snapshot of influential individuals driving political discourse online, ranging from micro-influencers to figures like Elon Musk. Inclusion criteria consider factors like primary focus on politics, collaborations with political campaigns or PACs, influence within specific communities (e.g., immigrants, disabled individuals), and demonstrable impact through driving news cycles or inspiring political change. On the right, this often encompasses meme creators and talk radio-style personalities.
Throughout the 2024 election cycle, influencers, content creators, and podcasters have received invitations to exclusive political events, including fundraisers, conventions, and rallies. This access allows them to share behind-the-scenes perspectives with their extensive online followings, distinguishing this approach from traditional courting of celebrities and controversial figures. A recent survey by Billion Dollar Boy, a global creator agency, revealed that at least 25% of creators were approached by political campaigns and organizations to produce political content for the 2024 election. The Democratic National Convention even credentialed influencers alongside journalists for the first time.
Influencers have reciprocated by opening their audiences to candidates. For example, Trump has appeared on numerous creator-led podcasts. The Harris campaign’s embrace of “brat summer” and the influencers who popularized it became a defining moment. Prominent right-wing influencers include billionaires like Musk and more mainstream media personalities like Charlie Kirk. This contributes to their larger followings compared to some younger, left-leaning creators.
Kamala Harris engaging with potential voters during a campaign event.
The long-term impact of political influencers remains uncertain, but they have undeniably reshaped online political engagement. The crucial question is whether they can effectively motivate voters to participate in the election.
A symbol of civic participation: a voting booth awaiting voters.
Political influencers are here to stay. The extent to which they can sway the election remains to be seen. One thing is sure, they’ve changed how we experience politics online. Now, the question is whether they can effectively encourage voters to head to the polls.
