Trump's TikTok Presence Outshines Biden's Efforts, Explains Pro-Biden Influencer
While both President Joe Biden and Donald Trump indicated intentions to ban TikTok, they have not shied away from harnessing its influential power.
Politico reported that Trump's straightforward content trumps Biden's more substantive approach, perplexing the Democratic campaign efforts.
Despite a four-month head start on TikTok, Biden's campaign is markedly trailing in visibility; Trump boasts a staggering 7.4 million followers compared to Biden's 405,000. This stark difference raises questions about their actual engagement and potential automated followers.
Biden's Stance in the Digital Age
Despite the numbers, Biden's campaign hoped the platform would bridge him to the younger demographics, who remain skeptical about his leadership owing to issues accentuated by his age and recent debate performances.
However, these strategies have yet to bear the desired fruit, reflected in the overwhelming volume of pro-Trump material compared to pro-Biden posts.
Olivia Julianna, a notable pro-Biden influencer on TikTok, seeks to pivot this trend. At 21 years old and with over 670,000 followers, Julianna has more influence on the platform than the Biden campaign.
Julianna rose to prominence in the political sphere during an engagement with Rep. Matt Gaetz in 2022, where she turned a negative personal attack into a successful fundraising campaign for abortion care.
Rising Democratic Voice in Social Media
Currently operating independently, Julianna intends to deploy her significant social media influence to bolster Biden's image and connect with young voters. Her advocacy and unique approach to content creation offer a fresh perspective within the Democratic digital strategy sphere.
Julianna expresses concern about the efficacy of traditional political content on TikTok, noting a general disincentive among left-leaning creators to engage deeply with political issues due to backlash from both political spectrums.
This environment has led to a decrease in politically inclined content from potential young influencers who find the platform hostile.
The Challenge of Content and Perception
Drawing from her observations, Julianna highlights a stark contrast in content style that could explain the disparity in follower count between Biden and Trump.
Trump's content, characterized by its simplicity and relatability, such as appearances at popular events like UFC fights, captures more attention than Biden's policy-focused posts.
The influencer also sheds light on why softer, more relatable content may better engage audiences, sharing that personal anecdotes from Biden have seen significant positive reception, suggesting a potential shift in campaign strategy could be beneficial.
Engaging Young Voters Effectively
Julianna also tackles the misconception that young voters prioritize only specific issues like climate change or gun control.
She argues that economic challenges like affordability and living costs resonate just as powerfully with the youth and urges that these be addressed more prominently in political campaigns.
According to Julianna, one significant barrier to young voter turnout is the tendency of older political figures to dismiss young people's concerns.
Her travels and interactions with youth across various forums have reinforced the importance of respecting and acknowledging young voices in political discourse.
In summary, while Trump's simplistic and lifestyle-focused approach seems to resonate more on TikTok, figures like Julianna are pushing the Biden campaign to adapt and adopt a more engaging and relatable digital strategy. This shift, coupled with a focus on core economic issues, might influence youth turnout in the upcoming elections, turning skepticism into support.