by By Jaelyn Pocholec
As election season is in full swing, more celebrities are publicizing their political views and candidate endorsements on various social media platforms. This year, pop singer Taylor Swift has been particularly relevant with her social media influence and presence. Leading up to this year’s heavily publicized election race between former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris, Swift has become a political advocate. Her recent endorsement of Kamala Harris in the presidential race serves as an example of her impact on young voters. Many avid Taylor Swift fan’s known as “Swifties” have responded with engagement, which reveals her guidance for new generations of Americans.
Taylor Swift made her notable endorsement of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz on September 10, 2024, following a presidential debate. In her statement, she expressed her support for Harris which highlights her commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and Walz’s dedication to women’s reproductive rights, which reflect Swift’s values. This is significant because her post reached millions of followers across Swift’s social media platforms. Attached is Swift’s post on Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/p/C_wtAOKOW1z/ .
Furthermore, Swift emphasizes the importance she feels to express her political values and stance on the upcoming election, especially in response to false AI news circulating that led people to have false assumptions of her political affiliation with former president Trump.
Impact In Numbers
Following her social media post supporting Harris, over 400,000 people visited Vote.org, which reveals a large increase in voter registration activity.
Topic Analysis
I chose to discuss this topic for my blog because I find it interesting how celebrity influence in American politics is unique and complex, because the dynamics of our political landscape. In the U.S., entertainers and other traditionally “non-political” influencers in various industries, may hold a unique power that can significantly shape public opinion and voter outcomes. Taylor has had more impact than merely just increasing the total volume of voters, but instead has sparked conversations and inspired mobilization. Fans’ admit how she directly influenced them with encouragement to get involved.
Hi Jaelyn! Taylor Swift has been one of the most impactful artists in our generation, so it’s great that she used her social media platforms to use her voice and encourage her audience to vote. Her endorsement of a candidate can definitely influence discussions in the media. Taylor has been relatively quiet about political endorsements for many years, so her decision to speak out can attract both support and criticism. Given her large platform, even a simple statement from her can have a significant impact.
Hey Jaelyn! I found your blog to be right on point with current events happening in the country. Taylor Swift is a celebrity this year that probably has the most impact when voicing her political opinions. Along with growing her name and business from her Era’s Tour, her fan base (Swifties) tends to always support her and listen to what she has to say. There are many celebrities and well-known individuals who are afraid of voicing their beliefs and views. A highly supported person posting about the importance of voting drives others to conduct more research and form their own opinion, whether they agree or not.
Hi Jaelyn, amazing work! Your article definitely sheds light on the powerful role Taylor Swift is playing in political engagement among young Americans. Her endorsement of Kamala Harris and dedication to causes like LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights resonates deeply with her fans, motivating real action, including a notable spike in voter registrations. Swift’s impact goes beyond typical celebrity influence; she’s sparking meaningful political discussions and empowering her followers to take part in shaping the future.
Hi Jaelyn, great read! Your blog was eye-catching and engaging, especially since most election news focused on results. As others have mentioned, Swift showed dedication to crucial policies and protections for minorities. Her endorsement of Democratic candidates surprised some fans, as many had assumed her political views were different. Taylor Swift’s decision to break her silence and share her stance shocked many, and your post captures this shift perfectly.
Hi Jaelyn, I really enjoyed this post. I think it is so interesting to talk about how social media and celebrity endorsements have an impact on political campaigns in this day and age. I also think it is interesting how this increase in celebrity endorsements and use of social media has coincided with the increase in young people who are choosing to vote. I think looking at how these things correlate with each other would be extremely interesting.
Hi Jaelyn! I found your blog post to be very insightful and reflective of our times. I completely agree with how interesting celebrity influence is in American Politics since entertainers have more sway over the younger generations than political figures. Taylor Swift has made a monumental impact on the 2024 election due to her large following and influence in our country, making her impact on this election very intriguing. After reading your blog, it makes me think about the power entertainers now have over the new generations instead of political figures. I find it interesting to see how the times have changed.
Hi! During the election, I was actually really curious about how celebrities impact the election when it comes to their views, especially Taylor Swift. So reading your blog was super interesting to me and honestly insightful see how drastic the numbers can be changed just from someone posting about the election.