If you follow representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) on social media, or even if you don’t, you’ve probably noticed how interactive and engaging she is with her followers.
Last October, she held a spot in the Twitch top 20 biggest broadcasts for her Among Us Livestream during election season. Following the U.S. Capitol riot in January, AOC went on Instagram live for an hour and a half describing her terrifying and emotional experience inside the Capitol.
Unlike many of her political predecessors, AOC is pretty in tune with the younger generation. Her understanding of social media, Livestream, and the internet, in general, gives the public a look into her personal and professional life.
Her impact is hard to ignore. Take her Twitch stream for example. At the height of the pandemic, Among Us was an extremely popular game for young people. AOC took advantage of this, linking a voter registration website under the video, and took time at the end to encourage viewers to get out the vote for the 2020 election. More than 400,000 viewers tuned in as AOC talked directly to fans, other prominent Twitch streamers such as Hasan Piker, and fellow representative Ilhan Omar.
More frequently though, AOC will hop on Instagram live to do a Q&A, or vlog herself going through a typical workday in Congress. Her online presence is so organic and natural that it sets itself apart from so many other politicians whose public interactions seem forced or inauthentic.
She represents a new wave of political leaders who are creating and maintaining online relationships with constituents. Her success with Instagram and Twitch serves as a sneak peek into the future of sociopolitical relationships between elected officials and U.S. citizens.
However, as more political figures follow in her footsteps, the line between politician and celebrity is starting to blur.
The reason AOC is beloved by so many is her relatability. She’s transparent and engaging, she understands current trends and slang; her relationship with her constituents almost feels like a friendship.
However, like all elected politicians, she is not a friend, celebrity, or influencer. She is a U.S. representative that works for New York’s 14th District and therefore works for the people. With the rise of social media’s political engagement, it’s easy to forget that no matter how lovable or friendly a politician appears, ultimately, they’re public servants.
Within the blurred lines of sociopolitical relationships, accountability, transparency and professionalism are often forgotten. As we are confronted with increasing live streams, Twitter clapbacks, and Instagram Q&As, citizens and leaders alike will have to set boundaries to ensure unambiguity.
Social media is an incredibly essential tool in keeping citizens politically engaged but also allows for the glorification of politicians. Finding a happy medium will be a continuous challenge in current and future politics.
For now, AOC continues to dominate all sides of the political spectrum. As more opportunities for user and viewer interaction arise, the possibilities for political leaders are endless.