How social media is making young people accidental election influencers

Social media is turning young people into accidental election influencers by amplifying their posts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X. Teenagers like Tolu and Will, despite not being able to vote, have their political content reaching large audiences, sometimes more than official party posts. Algorithms promote their videos to users who might not engage with traditional political commentary, leading to significant impact and sometimes changing voter opinions. However, this influence comes with risks, including the spread of misinformation and exposure to abuse and threats. Some influencers, like Alex, have even been inspired to create more political content after seeing similar posts on their feeds. This phenomenon underscores the power of social media algorithms in shaping political discourse, often favoring user-generated content over paid political ads.