Stop Pushing Content and Start Pushing Policies

The Democratic Party created its first social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter, in April 2008. Since then, they have curated over 54,000 posts. Just under 14 years later, the party launched a TikTok account in March 2022. The account posts daily, typically featuring debate summaries, breaking news, and trending comedy videos. 

Social media and politics have been increasingly intertwined in the last decade or so. One notable example is KamalaHQ on TikTok during the 2024 presidential election. The account was the official campaign page for Kamala Harris, but it has since rebranded as just Headquarters and focuses on “next-generation campaigning.” KamalaHQ was incredibly successful at reaching young people by leaning heavily into trends. They adopted a “brat” theme, in style with British singer Charli XCX’s hit album. However, Harris’s online presence sparked no historic young voter turnout and did not effectively capture the support she needed to win the election. 

Many young voters claimed that while they appreciated the former vice president’s attempt to appeal to their interests, she did little to encourage them on major issues. At the time of the election, the Israel-Gaza war weighed heavily on the minds of many Americans, and Harris held no solid stance. Some of her ads emphasized a ceasefire, while others highlighted Israel’s right to self-defense. Around one-third of young adults said their sympathies lay with the Palestinian people, and therefore wished for Harris to provide more aid than she was willing to publicly admit. Because of this irresolute stance, young voters hesitated to throw Harris their full support. 

According to a study by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, about 60% of young people are dissatisfied with the country’s direction. While young Americans statistically favor Democrats in elections, a general distrust of the government offsets that preference. A main source of that distrust is the prioritization of appearances over action. Politicians have always preached change, and now they do so on their online platforms as well. 

Posts about policies such as economic growth and foreign relations typically gain popularity, and viewers expect action in return. However, as history shows, politicians often neglect what they campaigned on once elected. This pattern shows how an active social media presence can do little to change voter turnout. 

Another flaw in the concept of an official political party social media account is the potential for a lack of propriety. TikTok is not a professional platform and is commonly used for comedy, entertainment, and creativity. When an official government party follows trends on an unofficial civilian site, it loses esteem and prestige. One recent video utilizes a common image portraying a yearning wolf, set to a semi-profane trending audio, with a caption encouraging audiences to “Vote Blue” in the upcoming election. The video quickly loses its appeal when acknowledging that a legitimate bureaucratic faction of America shared it with the public. 

Inflation and unemployment rates continue to rise, gas prices fluctuate due to an ongoing conflict in the Middle East, immigration crackdowns leave families broken and suffering, and 42 campuses have experienced active shootings in 2026. Elected officials are chosen specifically to hear our concerns and do everything in their power to fix them. It’s hard to have faith in a system that focuses on pushing content instead of pushing policies. 

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