This election season is unique in more ways than one, but one important component is the shift in how voters are keeping up with the conversation—especially Gen Z voters.
This essay is part of a Women & Democracy multimedia package focused on Gen Z and student voters. The future envisioned by young leaders is bright—it’s built on reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, sustainability, freedom from violence and economic opportunity. Explore essays, a brand-new podcast, videos and more from some of your most loved (or soon to be!) influencers and writers, brought to you by Ms., DoSomething, the nonprofit that helps make volunteerism “cool,” and The Anthem Awards, the social impact arm of The Webbys.
Given trends of misinformation and fear-mongering through traditional media outlets, younger generations are turning to TikTok and Instagram to keep up with current events. From on-the-ground coverage of international conflicts to local news stories and even the DNC, content creators have changed the game with how many people are receiving and consuming news and election information.
A Pew Research Center Study in March found that 48 percent of TikTok users ages 18 to 29 are using the platform to keep up with politics. Across platforms, content creators have built strong followings and most importantly trust with their audiences in a time when a lot of people don’t know what to believe.
We’ve rounded up some incredible content creators and media outlets that are leading the charge and are educating, activating and organizing young voters ahead of the election.
@underthedesknews
V Spehar is a content creator, political advocate, and is host of the American Fever Dream podcast. With over 3 million followers on TikTok, V gives their viewers the need to know information about top new stories, ongoings in Washington, and also throws in some feel good content to round things out.
@deja_foxx
After facing homelessness in her teens, Deja Foxx was determined to be an advocate for others. She was the youngest staffer and first Influencer and Surrogate Strategist to work on a presidential campaign during Kamala Harris’s run in 2020. At only 24 years old, Deja has already been honored with Planned Parenthood’s Catalyst of Change award, the Global Citizen Prize, and a Ms. Foundation Woman of Vision award.
Currently, Deja’s content is heavily focused on the upcoming election and supporting the Harris Campaign from official events to man-on-street discussions and sharing information on the importance of door-knocking.
@IMPACT
Through their newsletter and Instagram accounts, Impact Media is providing context for viewers across pop culture, politics, social justice and global unrest. Since their founding in 2020, their content has had over 1 billion views and they have raised over $1.7 million for causes aligned with their content. The team also runs @environment to educate their audience on all things climate and sustainability.
@genzforchange
Gen Z for Change is a nonprofit advocacy organization that has created a coalition with more than 500 content creators. The creators are covering the election and current events, but are also mobilizing their audience to stand up for injustices. Most notably, they sent over 80,000 fake job applications to Starbucks after the company fired individuals who were leading unionizing efforts.
@carlos_eduardo_espina
Born in Uruguay, Carlos Eduardo Espina is an immigrant advocate, organizer, nonprofit leader and lawyer. He creates bilingual content for more than 10 million followers and even spoke about immigrant rights and protections at the DNC this past summer. His content brings together Latinx communities and the New York Times even referred to him as “A one-man Telemundo.”
@harryjsisson
At 21 years old, Harry Sisson is churning out content to educate voters ahead of the 2024 election. He is breaking down everything from campaign ads to speeches from the candidates and also brought followers along for all things happening a the DNC this summer.
@pinknews
Pink News is providing a voice for the LGBTQ+ community in media. From their news site to their social media- Pink News is shining a light on queer stories and educating their audience with up-to-date information on LGBTQ+ rights and political progress globally.
@kahlilgreene
Kahlil Greene is a TikTok historian. His content dives into many hidden injustices in the United States and the history behind practices and trends still happening today. He is covering the parts of American history that were conveniently left out of our textbooks.
@morningbrew
Originally known for its daily newsletters, Morning Brew has become a top follow for anyone looking to be entertained with their news consumption. Their creative skits highlight top stories and current events in a hilarious manner. With so many heavy stories and content available, Morning Brew is providing a completely new avenue for news content.
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