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In "From Vibes to Votes," my co-author Renee DiResta and I explore a trend that's shifting the political landscape: social media influencers. With the power to mobilize voters and shape agendas, influencers bring a unique blend of reach, relevance, and resonance that traditional media can’t match. But this influence comes with questions around transparency, ethics, and regulation—issues critical to the integrity of the democratic process. Read our piece in Persuasion to see how these digital voices are impacting 2024 and beyond. #Democracy #SocialMedia #PoliticalInfluence #ElectionIntegrity https://lnkd.in/em6cD7Bg

Unfortunately, this doesn’t surprise me, but it does give me pause. As someone who works with more “traditional” media, how does this impact the role of traditional media in reaching consumers and disseminating the news? Or should we move away from defining it as "traditional" media and recognize the growth and evolution of the media landscape at large? (Probably) I don’t see “news influencers” going away but in an era of political polarization among the media and growing misinformation what will the “news landscape" look like next year? How should brands and comms adapt? #medialandscape #news #socialmedia #newsinfluencers

🚨🇺🇸 1 IN 5 AMERICANS RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NEWS A report from Pew Research Center reveals 21% of U.S. adults get their news from social media influencers, rising to 37% among those aged 18-29. Defined as creators with 100,000+ followers, influencers have become key alternatives to traditional outlets. Both parties embraced this trend during the 2024 election, with 200 influencers at the Democratic convention and 70 at the Republican event. Male influencers outnumber women 2-to-1, often leaning conservative, except on TikTok. Platforms like X and Instagram dominate this growing news ecosystem. i5News

The Dangerous Power of Social Media "Influencers" and Untrustworthy "Experts" In the modern era, "influencers" from social media wield an alarming amount of power over people's buying decisions, belief systems, and political information. But who are these people? What are their credentials? Often, they are simply individuals with a large following, not necessarily with any expertise or qualifications. The problem is that these so-called influencers are just as unreliable as the authorities and "experts"—academics, scientists, and doctors—we were told to trust during the pandemic, which led to two years of questionable lockdown restrictions. So, here we are—unable to trust social media influencers and now even skeptical of "educated" experts. The experts who are supposed to guide us with their knowledge and experience have also proven fallible and sometimes driven by hidden agendas or misinformation. This leaves us in a precarious position where the traditional sources of authority and new-age influencers both fail to inspire confidence. Who do you trust? The answer lies within yourself. Trust your gut, that innermost part of you that instinctively knows what feels right or wrong. We all have it, and it's a more reliable guide than any external source claiming authority. Question everything and make decisions based on your own judgment. Except for the fact that Bigfoot is real—we can prove that! Trust yourself, stay vigilant, and always seek the truth. Be Legendary with this shirt: https://vist.ly/3aicd #TrustYourGut #QuestionEverything #InfluencerPower #ExpertSkepticism #CriticalThinking #SelfReliance #DIA #BigfootIsReal #DIA #DIAEveryday #DIAMindset #greatness #veterans

🚨🇺🇸 1 IN 5 AMERICANS RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NEWS A report from Pew Research Center reveals 21% of U.S. adults get their news from social media influencers, rising to 37% among those aged 18-29. Defined as creators with 100,000+ followers, influencers have become key alternatives to traditional outlets. Both parties embraced this trend during the 2024 election, with 200 influencers at the Democratic convention and 70 at the Republican event. Male influencers outnumber women 2-to-1, often leaning conservative, except on TikTok. Platforms like X and Instagram dominate this growing news ecosystem. i5News

Celebrities and influencers like Addison Rae, Hailey Bieber, Justin Timberlake, and even Oprah have, on various occasions, disabled access to their social media comments in response to negative sentiment. Is this misguided? A new Journal of Marketing study finds that influencers are less persuasive and likable when they disable social media comments. This occurs because influencers are perceived as less receptive to consumer feedback and therefore less sincere, which in turn leads to professional and interpersonal consequences. In fact, the study finds that turning off comments is more reputationally costly than leaving them on, even when the displayed comments are mostly negative. The study posits that influencers who leave their comments on appear to show that they are at least interested in hearing from the public and learning from their actions, while those who turn them off signal their dismissiveness of other people’s opinions. When an influencer is perceived as trying to take reasonable measures to protect themselves during times of emotional turmoil and distress, they are not penalized to the same degree for disabling comments. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gEDnRiDU Study authors: Michelle Daniels and Freeman Wu #influencermarketing #socialmediacomments #marketingresearch

News by way of the Dunning-Kruger effect. "A new survey found that influencers have, to an extent, replaced mainstream media. About 21% of US adults—and nearly 40% of adults under 30—now get their news from individual creators, according to a Pew report." (Morning Brew)

📺The Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Opinion Social media platforms have become powerful tools in shaping public opinion. They allow for rapid dissemination of information and foster environments where opinions can be influenced and spread widely. Key Points: 1. Viral Content: Content that goes viral can reach millions of people within a short period. The virality often depends on the emotional impact of the content. Example: A heartfelt video showing community support during a crisis can go viral, creating a positive image of unity and resilience. 2. Echo Chambers: Social media algorithms often show users content similar to what they have interacted with before, creating echo chambers where people are exposed primarily to information that reinforces their existing beliefs. Example: Users who follow specific political pages are more likely to see posts that align with their political views, reinforcing their beliefs and potentially polarizing opinions. 3. Influencers and Opinion Leaders: Influencers with large followings can sway public opinion by endorsing products, ideas, or political candidates. Example: A well-known influencer promoting a particular lifestyle or endorsing a political candidate can lead to increased public support for that lifestyle or candidate. 4. Misinformation and Fake News: The rapid spread of misinformation can shape public opinion negatively. Fact-checking and critical thinking are crucial in combating this issue. Example: False news stories about health risks can cause public panic and lead to misinformation being widely accepted as truth. Tips for Navigating Social Media Influence: - Diversify Your Sources: Follow a variety of accounts to get a well-rounded perspective on issues. - Fact-Check Information: Use reliable fact-checking websites to verify the accuracy of information. - Be Critical: Question the motives behind the content being shared and the credibility of the sources. Understanding the role of social media in shaping public opinion helps us become more discerning consumers of information. #SocialMedia #PublicOpinion #Misinformation #Influencers #EchoChambers #FactChecking #CriticalThinking #DigitalLiteracy

Social media might be broken, but it’s still giving people power. In August, the #WhiteHouse will invite #influencers, #creators and #socialmedia personalities to its first ever White House #CreatorEconomyConference. At the event, they’ll discuss everything from #AI to #dataprivacy and social media’s impact on #mentalhealth. It’s a bid from the #Biden campaign to resonate with young audiences, but it’s also a signal of rapidly shifting power dynamics across the #US (and much of the world). Where governments and politicians could once treat the public like a captive audience, they now have to treat them like the content makers that they are. Influencers and social media users now dictating everything from brand success to stocks (Roaring Kitty is back!!). It’s smart of the White House to acknowledge that they’ll have a say in the future of AI and the #economy.