The Art of Influence: Politicians and Social Media Content Creators

A Dylan Carpowich and Chat GPT Creation. (Also does anyone else find the fact that Kevin Spacey and Donald Trump share a similar space on Hollywood BLVD... a somewhat hilarious and ironic historical coincidence? or is it just me?)

Introduction

In today's digital age, the lines between traditional roles have blurred, and two seemingly distinct professions – politicians and social media content creators – share more in common than one might think. Both rely on building and maintaining a public persona to connect with their audience and wield influence. In this blog post, we'll explore the striking similarities between these two roles and how they navigate the complex world of public perception.

From my various internship experiences within the California Legislature I have learned a thing or two about the “Legislative Process.” Having been an almost full time intern in the 2009 session of 3 budget bills, a delta water policy summit of dozens of bills, a drought, Arnold vetoing everything, the Abel Maldonado vote that got him to be Lt. Governor, the rise of the Tea Party (remember them), There also was a Senator from Orange County who resigned after being caught on a hot microphone about spanking a lobbyist in his office I think his last name was Duvall, that session also had members who became US Senators, and mayors of Sacramento and Los Angeles who I would hope one day get invited over to Arnold’s home in Beverly Hills or Brentwood (or wherever) and legitimately laugh at how ridiculous that 20o9 session was over some whiskey and cigars. I almost feel like California needs a cigar summit of Mayor Bass, Mayor Steinberg, Senator Padilla, and Governor Schwarzenegger.

I was recalling these memories earlier today and realized that the job of being a politician, was very similar to the job of being a social media influence or “content creator”. The rest of this blog post is Chat GPT, but I thought I would list some similarities in my own words here.

1. Both Social Media influencers and Politicians get money for being a public face. Politicians get a government paycheck of some kind and social media influencers monetize their YouTube videos, posts, and digital creations. But essentially both get money for being public people.
2. The somewhat hilarious part of both jobs, is that most of the people in the public have no idea what their jobs are. The average voter/consumer has no idea what the average day of a “content creator” is like or what the average day of a politician is. Even though both jobs are very much like working for the public.
3. Both jobs exist in a world in which time does not exist like it does in the world of normal people. A content creator or social media influencer usually batch creates content over the course of a week or two, for example they may spend all day for a week creating videos, posts, photos, or whatever else they create, and then post them weeks or months later as a way to monetize their past work. It’s like the job of an actor or musician or any creative person. The posts become “public” sometimes long after it was created making the idea of being “present” an impossible task for social media influencers.
   1. Similarly the job of passing legislation is the job of a politician. Well part of being the job of a politician is passing legislation. But that is a long process, the ideas that are being discussed now in October/November of 2023 will be introduced as ideas for new laws in January of 2024, some will pass, most will fail, the ones that do pass sometimes becomes law, at which point the public is notified of the new law by the news or other outlets and usually that law begins to take into effect the following year. So the ideas now in the fall of 2023 might become a law a year from now in 2024 and begin to go into effect for the public to follow in the beginning of 2025 when most of the public usually here’s about it for the first time.
   2. For both politicians and social media influencers, at the point the public sees and recognizes their work the idea is almost old news. A video on YouTube first had to be an idea, then usually had to have some kind of script, a plan, then filmed, and edited before posting. By the time all that work is done trying to remember where the idea first came from or what those first steps were is sometimes very difficult.
4. Both jobs also have a fair amount of staging in them. Similar to how real estate agents stage a house or apartment they are trying to sell, social media influencers and politicians often times take a page from Hollywood and stage their content. If you walk into any model home being sold you will see the “fake life” that is an almost dream like way of living. What you do not see is any of the real life things laying around. The kids room has a made bed, neat decorations, an inviting warm feeling where you can imagine some rascals running around. It does not have what most homes probably look like most of the time, a messy bed the kid doesn’t make, toys all over the place, a mom irritated at all the dirty clothes laying around, a husband and kid who are getting a little hangry after returning from a little league or softball game/practice. (Or anything else that is normal and similar to this situation) All of that stuff is real life, absolutely none of that stuff you hear talked about in political rhetoric or on social media. People want the Hollywood real estate model home version of life on the internet instead of the real life versions we all live.
   1. I mention this because my one paid job in politics was calling random voters during the 2016 election, and I interrupted countless moms at work doing real life things like putting groceries away while trying to get a quick snack together for a kid who is getting antsy. I also interrupted a lot of guys watching football and baseball which was them at work in a way. My point being is that both politicians and social media influencers kind of rely on these regular normal people to find their content engaging and interesting enough to continue to watch and listen to.
5. These are all things that are good to keep in mind when trying to connect with younger voters out on the campaign trail in 2024.

It’s as if politics and social media addiction is an easy escape from real life, for normal people who don’t care about politics, talking politics is like talking about the movies, nobody has any control at what the script is, who the actors are, what sells or not, everyone understands that their one ticket sale/vote probably won’t make or break the success of a Hollywood movie or election, but they go do it anyway because they are team Democrat or team Republican or they watch every movie Tyler Perry does out of principle or they like a specific actor, or they are in a mood. My point being is that the success of blockbuster movies is kind of like elections, you may have good ideas as to what the public will enjoy and go for, but sometimes the public throws a knuckleball and doesn’t do what was expected. Sometimes elections can be like the movie Waterworld, an over done highly expensive movie that underperformed, but years later you look back on and think “Meh it wasn’t that bad was it?” And then you have that one friend who goes “Yea it was totally that bad”

Social Media posts can be like that sometimes too.

Chat GPT

Storytelling and Branding

Both politicians and social media content creators are storytellers at heart. Politicians craft narratives to convey their vision and policies to the public. Similarly, content creators weave compelling stories to engage their followers. Both need to establish a strong personal brand to remain relatable and trustworthy.

Politicians must be consistent in their messaging to gain public trust, while content creators build their brand through relatability and authenticity. The power of storytelling is central to connecting with an audience and forging a lasting impression.

Building an Audience

Politicians work tirelessly to build a constituency, while content creators aim to grow their followers. In both cases, the process involves expanding reach and connecting with people on a personal level. Social media has become the primary tool for this outreach. Content creators harness platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, while politicians employ Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, recognizing the importance of these platforms in modern communication.

Engagement and Interaction

Both politicians and content creators understand the value of engagement. They actively respond to comments, engage in conversations, and foster a sense of community among their followers. This interaction is essential for maintaining relevance and trust.

Adaptation to Trends

The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Politicians and content creators must stay current with trends and adapt their strategies accordingly. Whether it's a trending hashtag, a new social media platform, or a fresh policy concern, both groups need to remain flexible and responsive.

Transparency and Authenticity

Transparency and authenticity are crucial in both roles. Politicians must maintain an image of honesty and openness, while content creators strive for genuine connections with their audience. Both must address controversies and mistakes head-on to preserve trust.

Content Creation

While the nature of the content may differ, both politicians and content creators create content. Politicians craft speeches, policy documents, and interviews, whereas content creators produce videos, photos, and written posts. The ability to convey messages effectively is a shared skill.

Metrics and Analytics

Politicians and content creators rely on metrics and analytics to measure the success of their strategies. They track engagement rates, reach, and conversion data to make data-driven decisions and adjust their approaches.

Building Coalitions and Collaborations

Both politicians and content creators can benefit from building coalitions and collaborations. Politicians form alliances and partnerships with other politicians to advance their agendas, while content creators collaborate with other influencers or brands to expand their reach.

Conclusion

In this digital age, the similarities between the roles of politicians and social media content creators are striking. Both professions revolve around storytelling, audience-building, engagement, adaptation, transparency, and content creation. They rely on public perception and influence to achieve their goals.

As the lines continue to blur between these roles, it's essential for both politicians and content creators to learn from one another. The art of influence and the power of building and maintaining a public persona are skills that can be honed and shared, ultimately benefiting both spheres in the ever-evolving world of communication and influence.