Our position: People in the spotlight should take advantage of their platform and use their influence for the sake of politics

In 2020, ahead of Portugal’s Euro game against Hungary, Cristiano Ronaldo moved two Coca-Cola bottles out of the camera’s view in a press conference. He then held up a bottle of water and said, “agua.” Shortly after, Coca-Cola saw its stock value drop by $4 billion. Celebrities have power. They influence what people buy, what people wear, and sometimes how people think. So, should celebrities use their influence for politics? Well, they have a First Amendment right to speak their mind, and there is nothing wrong with having a political opinion. 

In 2024, Taylor Swift posted an Instagram story endorsing Kamala Harris for the Presidential election. The post also included a link to Vote.gov, and according to The New York Times, “About 406,000 people clicked on the link in the 24 hours after Ms. Swift posted it”. Although it is not known how many fans registered to vote or actually voted in the election, she got people involved.

There are consequences to sharing and publicizing your political beliefs. Swift risked bad blood with her fans by endorsing a candidate. She didn’t need more money or more fame. She could actually lose money by speaking her mind. Sure, she’s a billionaire, and losing a few album sales or concert ticket sales won’t affect her net worth. Some fans probably want her to stay out of politics and just focus on her music. While she supported her presidential candidate, there’s a more important issue than public endorsement; Swift encouraged civic participation.

Celebrity culture has already changed politics. Our current president, Donald Trump, was the star of the tv show “The Apprentice,” and had no experience in politics before running for president. Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger were both actors before becoming president and governor of California. Nowadays, politics is less about ideas and policy and more about personality and fame. Maybe we should differentiate between celebrities sharing their opinion and celebrities telling their followers exactly what to think.

Yes, celebrities should use their platform and influence in politics. The bigger issue is that people need to have their own opinions and not just vote based on what a celebrity says. People need to do their own research and educate themselves on the issues. It’s one thing to agree with your favorite influencer’s political take; it’s another to blindly cast your ballot without independent thought. Celebrity involvement in politics isn’t about sheep being herded. It’s about spurring involvement in the American political process. Why? Young people (18-29) are still the least likely of any age group to vote in national elections, going back to 1964, according to Statista.com. When young people don’t vote, their issues and interests aren’t represented. This plummets political engagement and doesn’t reflect the will of all citizens. We need more young people to vote. 

Celebrities will always have power and a voice. Their influence can move stock prices, change minds, or start trends. We might roll our eyes when an influencer speaks their mind, but it’s their Constitutional right. When it comes to politics, they should continue to use their influence because they might inspire a new generation of voters. 

Staff Vote: 13-10