Political experts are trying to figure out what went wrong for the Democrats in the midst of Kamala Harris ‘ lost in the 2024 vote. A new study suggests that social media, particularly TikTok, played a shocking role in her defeat despite voting turnout and economic concerns having dominated the discussion.
A new report from Blue Rose Research, led by Democrat data scientist David Shor, revealed that Harris suffered significant losses among young and socially disconnected voters, a group that had formerly leaned Democrat. According to the study, TikTok, a system used to influence political discussion among Gen Z, does have contributed to shifting social attitudes, particularly among young men.
A Change in Voter Behavior
Harris ‘ defeat was a result of voters switching factors rather than participation. Some non-white moderates and conservatives who had formerly backed Democrats retreated to the Republican station. This change was most evident in younger electors, a typically left-leaning group that, in this election, showed a greater preference for liberal policies and candidates.
TikTok, a system that younger people frequently use, helped to spread right-wing propaganda. TikTok’s algorithms has been known to promote nationalist and counter-mainstream stories, in contrast to Facebook and Twitter, where information is driven by commitment and established sites. Although the Democratic Party has typically relied on social media to woo young voters, Harris ‘ strategy may have had more difficulty controlling the narrative as a result of the traditional content’s publicity on TikTok.
The Political Landscape Is Changing
The growing intellectual polarization among non-white electors was another important aspect of the report’s findings. Generally, minority voters were more likely to bend Political regardless of their intellectual position. But, non-white reformers and conservatives voted more conservatively than white rivals in 2024, indicating a more recent shift in the public.
Harris lost significant seats as a result of this change, combined with growing unhappiness over monetary issues. While the Biden administration had put a focus on job creation and economic recovery, some working-class voters, particularly those who were struggling with inflation and cost-living issues, felt that the Democrats were not properly addressing their needs.
What Does This Mean for the Democrat Party?
The findings challenge the commonly held notion that Harris ‘ defeat was mostly attributable to lower Democratic voter participation. Otherwise, the results suggest that many voters have constantly shifted their allegiance, drawn to the Republican Party’s policies on issues like inflation, offense, and social values.
Democrats need to reevaluate their approach to online commitment immediately as a result. TikTok previously served as a platform for liberal activism, which suggests that it has since grown to be a center for traditional messaging. Democrats may need to refine their electronic strategy and address the financial concerns that are polarizing voters in order to regain control of younger and detached voters.
One thing is clear as the party prepares for upcoming elections: social media has more power than ever to effect political attitudes. The Democrats ‘ ability to adapt to this new reality will probably determine their success in the years to come.
How the 2024 text changed.
The poll results of 2024 defied objectives, challenging long-held conceits about identity politics. Kapala Harris, who was anticipated to do better among Black, woman, Latino, and younger voters than Joe Biden did in 2020, rather performed worse in all of these populations. Just educated citizens and white people were the only demographics she outperformed Biden with. As psychologist Musa al-Gharbi observed, a dramatic takeaway from the election was that” Democrats lost because everyone but whites gravitated toward Donald Trump.”
The inability to make these predictions is a testament to how frequently people rely on dated emotional models that assume social behavior is influenced by team identity. These models depict politicians as a battle between subjugated and wealthy groups, which have been influenced by the recent liberation movements. According to this viewpoint, people vote according to their cultural, racial, or sex identities. The election results, but, reveal a more nuanced reality: people prefer identity-based cooperation to issues like inflation, violence, and foreign policy.
The personality politics platform, which has dominated powerful elites and liberal circles, frequently ignores specific company and oversimplifies group identities. Despite the fact that racial groups do not account for economic and social diversity, groups like” Spanish voters” combine vastly different areas. As evidenced by higher interracial marriage rates and shifting self-identifications, also traditionally strong identity groups are liquid.
