‘We Have No Shared Reality’: Two Political Influencers on the Future of Politics Online
Wired · Molly Taft ·
Kat Abughazaleh and CJ Pearson spoke at WIRED World Fair on Wednesday about the influence of social media on politics following Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Given that that statistic jumps to 77 percent when you isolate Gen Z, it’s unlikely to change anytime soon. On the heels of a historic Democratic wave capturing the House and Senate Tuesday, Kat Abughazaleh, who ran for an Illinois House seat earlier this year as a Democrat, and Republican strategist CJ Pearson talked about the future of influencers and algorithms at the WIRED World Fair in Miami on Wednesday.
The Trump administration has been particularly aggressive in welcoming right-wing creators into the White House. Former press secretary Karoline Leavitt opened formal press briefings to digital creators last year and hosted influencer-specific briefings during her tenure. (Leavitt’s move garnered hefty criticism for favoring softball questions, especially as the administration cracked down on the presence of more traditional media in press briefings.)
Pearson, who previously served on the RNC’s Youth Advisory Council, has been directly involved in these efforts, and points out that multiple federal agencies are now copying the White House’s playbook. He said that it’s simply the cost of getting people’s attention in the digital age.