For many young people around the country, the upcoming Presidential election will be the first they will be able to vote in.
But with an increase in influencers posting about who they are voting for, it raises the question of the role social media will play in the election.
Founder of Online News Media Stephen O’Leary said that while influencers will definitely play an important role, “they’re not going to change the course”.
“We don’t have to go back too far to look at the US presidential election, and what was perceived to be a key tipping point in that was when a very influential person, Taylor Swift, endorsed Kamala Harris,” he told Lunchtime Live.
“When that happened, the common prediction was that they could get out a significant vote – as in millions of new voters.
“[They thought] some of these people might go out and vote for the first time and actually have a really significant impact on the US presidential election.
“That did not occur.”
According to Mr O’Leary, the more important thing influencers can do is to encourage young people to vote.
Caller Rebecca said she things social media “plays a humongous role in particular”.
“If I was still living with my friends in a student setting, definitely the main way that they’re consuming any information surrounding the election is solely from social media,” she said.
“Whether that be influencers or the candidates themselves.
“But that is definitely the main, if not the only way that most people around my age are consuming any information surrounding the election.”
Rebecca said it’s not necessarily a negative thing, as influencers could encourage young people to vote.
Main image: Group friends using mobile smartphone outdoor - Millennial young people having fun with new social media technology
