By Devon Mooring

 Howard University News Service

WASHINGTON— The 2024 presidential election campaign season has been noteworthy for many reasons. High-stakes issues like abortion, immigration and international conflicts have dominated public discourse.

This has led to intense debates among politicians and celebrities over what’s at stake in this election. A notable addition to the list of differences this year is podcasts. 

Both presidential candidates have appeared on numerous internet podcasts and live streams during their campaign’s final stretch.

As social media and internet platforms become increasingly integral to our culture, political strategies used to connect with voters have evolved. In addition to traditional rallies and regular interviews, ‘sit-downs’ with some of the internet’s biggest influencers have become the new norm for political press tours.

 How did we get here?

This shift in campaign platforms reflects how younger generations consume news. According to a Pew Research Center report, 58% of adults now prefer getting their news from digital devices over traditional formats such as print, television or radio.

Each year, the percentage of Americans relying on news websites, social media and podcasts to stay informed is steadily increasing. Young Americans, particularly those aged 18 to 29, are especially engaged with social media. Almost 78% of young adults in this age group get at least some of their news from social media, while 34% receive some news from podcasts.

These statistics suggest that politicians must establish an online presence to make a meaningful connection with young voters – and many have responded accordingly.

In recent months, Donald Trump has appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” “Flagrant,” “This Past Weekend with Theo Von,” and a Twitch live stream with Adin Ross. These platforms attract predominantly young, male audiences, a demographic that makes up a substantial portion of Trump supporters.  

Similarly, Vice President Kamala Harris has joined popular podcasts that allow her to target key supporting demographics such as the young women who listen to podcasts like  “Call Her Daddy” with Alex Cooper. Another demographic is Black men, who make up a large percentage of listeners of the podcasts “Club Shay Shay” with Shannon Sharpe and “All the Smoke” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.. 

While the reasoning behind this new campaign tactic is clear to younger audiences, questions remain about its effectiveness. Sarah Bolarinwa, a senior at Howard University and avid podcast listener, believes these efforts are making a positive impact.

“It’s a good thing because podcasts are my favorite form of media to consume. Getting long-form interviews is something that I don’t think you can get from a debate or a 10-minute segment on CNN, so you can go through a bunch of topics with a podcast,” Bolarinwa explained.

Still,  most young people don’t get their news directly from podcasts; they favor shorter content on TikTok and Instagram. However, clips from podcast interviews are often shared on social media, expanding their reach. 

“I think it’s making them a little bit more aware because even if you don’t know who the candidates are, you’ve heard of them from social media,” Bolarinwa said.

Nevertheless, the rise of influencer-led interviews does pose certain challenges. 

“There is a thing to be said that people who are journalists – there is a training that you have,” said Bolarinwa. “Actual journalists would know how to hear an answer, digest it, and be able to have a follow-up question or response to that and not just let the person that’s being interviewed get away with saying things that I feel influencers might let them get away with saying.”

It’s also worth noting that many influencers openly support one candidate. For instance, Twitch streamer Adin Ross expressed his admiration for Trump during a livestream. 

“Everyone in the chat – everyone in this room, loves you. And I just want to say you’re a true hero for this country and I appreciate you,” Ross said.

Similarly, on “Club Shay Shay,” Sharpe voiced his support for Harris.

“I just want you to know, you make us proud for what you’ve been able to accomplish. We’re 12 days away and we hope you have an even greater accomplishment,” he said.

Devon Mooring is a HU News Service reporter.