Buckle up, boomers! Want to know the secret on how Gen Z has all the scoop on what's currently going on politically? Welcome to the social media world, where short videos and memes have turned into the new news source. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter have become not only a source of entertainment but a tool for political education. It gives Gen Z the chance to get political awareness and participate where it's important. This shift has been very strong with Gen Z and will definitely create an impact on this year’s election in November.

In the world of social media, everything is more unfiltered and authentic unlike your usual media outlets. The content news channels put out are most of the time edited and put through multiple rounds of revision to align with sponsorship guidelines. Whether you agree with them or not, these unfiltered messages provide a much more real perspective on political issues.

How TikTok Is Creating Political Awareness

TikTok, a platform that was in the beginning known for its fun dances and viral challenges. But has now emerged into one of the most important platforms for political awareness among Gen Z. Who knew that dance challenges and lip-sync battles could turn political debates into viral trends.

Influencers have the ability to reach those who aren't exposed to traditional news sources. An example is Marcus Dipaola, a journalist who provides straightforward and concise updates on current events and political news. Influencers like him can break down complex topics into easily understandable segments, making news more accessible to a younger audience. With making it all more approachable it can help encourage their followers to ask questions and learn from one another.

Live Streaming Political Events

Young users are receiving crash courses in political science all through their socials. Media organizations are using these platforms to livestream presidential debates, rallies, and election night. The recent presidential debate that occurred on June 28 was live-streamed, and responses from our candidates became quickly viral especially on TikTok. There was also a presidential rally in Pennsylvaina being live-streamed recently which turned out to be a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Moments like this bring bringing immediate awareness and updates to users. There are many important things happening daily leading up to election day in November and it's important that everyone stays informed. Recently Each platform caters something different through live-streaming and together they create a perfect approach to political engagement making it the perfect way for Gen Z to stay educated.

The Influence of Podcasts

Podcasts have opened the door for exploration on political topics and for listeners to get a better understanding on important current issues. Many popular influencers have been creating podcast such as "IMPAULSIVE" by Logan Paul. This is a very popular podcast for Gen Z where he sometimes brings in high profile figures. On June 13^th Logan Paul brought in former President Donald Trump for an interview where it brought a big reach of young people and exposed them to political discussion. Another podcast is “I’ve Had It” hosted by Jennifer Welch and Angie Pumps Sullivan, these ladies invited Vice President Kamala Harris to speak about politics and airplane etiquette. 

The long for nature of podcasts allow listeners to resonate with their perspectives and hear directly from those involved in what happening in the real world. What makes podcasts so perfect for young Gen Z is how it fits perfectly with our daily lives. We can be on the go whether that is going to school, working out, driving, or just relaxing we can stay informed and educated anywhere at any time.

This generation is not only now using social media to keep themselves entertained like it used to be. It has also transformed into a place where you can participate freely and learn on what’s going on politically around the world. For LIKEY, we specialize in experiential marketing, and we want to create engaging experiences that foster deep connections. Using social media and experiential can drive awareness and connect Gen Z on a personal level with each other inspiring action towards important topics.