Rise of Influencers: How Popular YouTubers Shaped the 2016 US Presidential Election
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The 2016 US presidential election was marked by unprecedented turmoil, with voters on both sides of the political spectrum feeling like they were faced with a difficult choice. Among the key demographic groups that ultimately decided the outcome was young male voters, who overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump. While many factors contributed to this phenomenon, one crucial factor that has received relatively little attention is the role of popular YouTubers in shaping the opinions of these young men.
In the months leading up to the election, a select group of popular YouTubers began to take a more active role in the political conversation. These creators, who had built massive followings by creating entertaining and often provocative content, saw an opportunity to leverage their influence to sway the opinions of their young male fans. Through a combination of clever marketing, persuasive storytelling, and savvy manipulation of social media, these YouTubers were able to push young male voters toward Trump in ways that were both surprising and significant.
One of the most influential YouTubers in this regard was a personality known as PewDiePie. With over 100 million subscribers, PewDiePie was already one of the most popular YouTubers in the world, known for his humorous commentary and entertaining video game playthroughs. In the months leading up to the election, PewDiePie began to shift his focus to politics, using his platform to criticize Hillary Clinton and promote Trump’s candidacy.
At first, PewDiePie’s political commentary seemed like a novelty, a quirky aside from his usual gaming content. However, as the election drew closer, it became clear that he was taking his new role as a political commentator seriously. PewDiePie began to produce a steady stream of pro-Trump content, including videos attacking Clinton and touting Trump’s supposed virtues.
PewDiePie’s influence was not limited to his own channel, however. He was able to reach a much wider audience through his collaborations with other popular YouTubers. For example, he partnered with a personality known as Keemstar, who had built a massive following through his commentary on internet drama and controversy. Keemstar’s channel, known as DramaAlert, was already known for its provocative content and inflammatory rhetoric, and PewDiePie’s partnership with him only served to amplify these tendencies.
Together, PewDiePie and Keemstar created a powerful pro-Trump machine that was able to reach a large and impressionable audience. Their videos were filled with inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation, and they frequently used their platforms to attack Clinton and promote Trump’s candidacy. The impact of their efforts was significant, as they were able to sway the opinions of thousands of young male voters and contribute to Trump’s ultimate victory.
PewDiePie and KeemStar were not the only YouTubers to play a role in the 2016 election, however. Other popular creators, such as Shane Dawson and Jeffree Star, also used their platforms to promote Trump and attack Clinton. Dawson, a comedian and entertainer, was known for his humorous commentary and entertaining vlogs, but he also produced a number of pro-Trump videos that were highly critical of Clinton.
Star, a beauty YouTuber, was known for his outspoken commentary on social and political issues. He was an early supporter of Trump, and he used his platform to promote the candidate’s candidacy and attack Clinton. Both Dawson and Star were able to reach a large and impressionable audience, and their efforts contributed to the growing sense of momentum behind Trump’s campaign.
The impact of these YouTubers on the 2016 election was significant, as they were able to reach a large and impressionable audience and shape the opinions of thousands of young male voters. Their efforts were not limited to promoting Trump’s candidacy, however. They also used their platforms to attack Clinton and promote a number of toxic and divisive ideologies.
For example, PewDiePie and Keemstar frequently used their platforms to promote racist and sexist rhetoric, and they frequently attacked Clinton and other politicians who were perceived as being insufficiently supportive of Trump. Their videos were filled with inflammatory language and misinformation, and they frequently used their platforms to spread hate and intolerance.
The impact of these YouTubers on the 2016 election was significant, as they were able to reach a large and impressionable audience and shape the opinions of thousands of young male voters. Their efforts were not limited to promoting Trump’s candidacy, however. They also used their platforms to attack Clinton and promote a number of toxic and divisive ideologies.
In the years since the election, there has been growing concern about the impact of these YouTubers on the political process. Many have argued that their efforts were a significant factor in Trump’s victory, and that they contributed to the growing sense of division and polarization that has characterized American politics in the years since the election.
The role of popular YouTubers in the 2016 election is a complex and multifaceted one, and it is difficult to say exactly how much influence they had on the outcome. However, it is clear that they played a significant role in shaping the opinions of thousands of young male voters, and that their efforts contributed to the growing sense of momentum behind Trump’s campaign.
As the 2020 election approaches, it is clear that the role of popular YouTubers in shaping public opinion will continue to be a significant factor. The question is, will they use their platforms to promote divisive and toxic ideologies, or will they work to promote unity and understanding? Only time will tell.
