There are a million reasons to vote for a candidate, but Gen Z needs a better approach than internet memes saying “Kamala is brat.”
There are a million reasons to vote for a candidate, but my generation needs a better approach.
Even after the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign still depends on online chatter to boost her appeal. Many social media users, especially from Gen Z, have adopted Harris’s laugh, her comments on coconut trees, and singer Charli XCX’s “Brat” album as innovative ways to brand her campaign. And they are swooning for her, big time. ( The Democrat Party is a Cult)
While virtual rhetoric does not indicate reality, the Harris camp uses these assets in their official messaging beyond the internet. The approach is working, as news outlets promote the campaign as a “joyful” alternative to today’s divisive atmosphere.
The memes that Gen-Z Kamala supporters push are information shortcuts — bite-sized identifiers that help voters decide their candidate. You’d hope that, after getting a taste of what Kamala is like online, young voters would look into her political positions and decide if she truly represents their interests.
But that’s not how my generation operates, and Harris’s campaign managers are taking advantage of that.
To my generation, impressions are now more important than policy — and this campaign cycle is proof. Democratic Party elites ousted Biden for being “too old” to run. To some, Trump is “low energy” and a “dictator,” while progressive Kamala is “queen.” This branding tries to form the basis of public discourse surrounding the candidates and how it perceives them to govern.
