Ella Persky is Editor-in-Chief at the Midpeninsula Post and Intro & Content Editor at Mountain View High School’s The Oracle.
As we’re approaching election day, it seems as if everyone has something to say about American politics — including celebrities. All of our Instagram and TikTok feeds are becoming increasingly littered with our favorite artists, actors, and singers endorsing parties or candidates as Nov. 5 gets closer and closer. They’re making elaborate videos and ads on political topics, writing four paragraph-long Instagram captions endorsing candidates, and making slightly annoying TikToks alongside elected officials.
While to some, increased celebrity activism and political endorsement may seem concerning — a symbol of the growing blurred lines between entertainment and serious political discourse — I see it another way. Celebrities should be able and encouraged to voice their endorsements and political standings, something many of them have done successfully for over a century. But with that, general society and especially fans must also advocate for an informed electorate that critically engages with the topics at hand.
The conversation around whether celebrities should start getting involved in politics at all is a naive one. For years, public figures have made their presence in political spheres known — just look at Ronald Reagan, an actor-turned-president, and Muhammad Ali, a famous boxer who took an early outspoken stance against the Vietnam War. In the wise words of Will Rogers: “People are taking their comedians seriously, and the politicians as a joke, when it used to be vice versa.” And the truth is, this evergrowing trend doesn’t seem like it’s going to slow down anytime soon. So, it’s time we come to terms with this reality.
And although I’m one of the last people to swoon over celebrities and their ilk, we can’t ignore that celebrities have considerable sway in elections — a privilege that must be treated with care and respect. And, in many cases, we’re seeing strong positive impacts coming from celebrity activism: When Kylie Jenner urged her Instagram followers to vote in 2020, the site she linked reported a 1,500% increase in traffic compared to the day before, and a coalition called “Swifties for Kamala” has quickly grown to consist of over 60,000 members.
I’m not saying that we’re just supposed to blindly follow celebrities’ opinions, though. In fact, I want to convey the opposite. Although it’s clear that fame is inextricable from American political culture and that it can be used for good, at the end of the day, a person is just a person. A celebrity’s opinion is just that: an opinion. So, as we face the reality of the intersection between pop culture and election season, we must also face that we have a duty, as the electorate, to take everything with a kosher-sized grain of salt.
In an age of increasing groupthink culture and conformity, in part due to pop culture-centered social media, it’s more vital than ever that we encourage young voters to think for themselves and make their own researched decisions — even if their favorite celebrity endorses a specific candidate or party.
That starts with education. The solution isn’t to limit celebrity voices, or to assume they should limit themselves to specific content. Celebrities have platforms that reach millions — and who’s to dictate how they can or can’t use them? Ultimately, the deeper need is for general American society to develop a better, more impactful educational system that teaches kids the importance of research and independence from a young age, addressing the root cause of this problem. That’s the only way we’ll get anything solved: not by idolatry or reactivity, but by critical thinking.
