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.
