The Power of Social Media in Shaping the 2024 Election
Based on the attached transcript, it's clear that conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has found immense success in leveraging the TikTok platform to reach and influence young voters.
The TikTok Phenomenon
Kirk describes the staggering viewership numbers he's been able to achieve on TikTok, with individual videos garnering 50 million, 138 million, and even 226 million views. He notes that this level of engagement on TikTok far outpaces what he sees on other social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Kirk attributes this success to TikTok's unique ability to connect with the "working class" and "muscular class" - janitors, waiters, Uber drivers, and others who may not be as engaged on traditional media. He notes the platform's diverse audience, with strong representation from Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American viewers.
The October 7th Turning Point
Kirk believes the events of October 7th, which led to a proposed TikTok ban, were a pivotal moment that opened the door for his team's success on the platform. He theorizes that the ban, which was tied to concerns over anti-Israel sentiment, prompted TikTok to become more receptive to conservative voices.
"I think Chris would actually agree with this because it's just an objective analysis not a partisan one and the the buried lead of the October 7th was that it it got Tik Tok banned and remember the Tik Tok ban stalled based on just China concerns but Tik Tok was the The Hub of a lot of the anti-israel sentiment that was brewing with Gen Z and then all of a sudden the Tik Tock ban got uh resurfaced Mitt Romney said at a security conference we are Banning Tik Tok because it is sewing anti-israel sentiment in the United States so Tik Tok gets banned and our team we had this idea like hey Tik Tok is in a place where they don't want to get banned with an incoming Administration let's send out a tweet saying hey guys let's do one more chance if you treat us fairly we'll become Tik tok's like biggest right-wing fan right and I will talk and they reached out and they were great they said the here are our rules we will uh transparently enforce them again they they very very sensitive you talk about trans stuff it's like incredibly right even if you do it diplomatically and we said great so uh again this is all transparent it's all public there's no like back room deal and so we started posting my old College discussions there because I've been doing this for 12 years where we just have open dialogues and we started to get 5 million views a day six million views a day and 10 million views a day."
Kirk believes that his TikTok success, combined with other factors like Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition and the indictments against Donald Trump, could pave the way for a major comeback for the former president in 2024.
He cites a Wall Street Journal article that highlights the significant shift in young voter support, with Trump gaining a 14-point lead among men under 30 and narrowing the gap with women under 30. Kirk attributes this to his team's efforts to reach young voters through platforms like TikTok, as well as Trump's own outreach through college events and popular podcasts.
"Trump's campaign reach young voters through college events Tick Tock they're talking about you right here and popular podcast following advice from his son Baron who recommended appearance on platforms such as Aiden RZ drawn hundreds of thousands of views now Aiden sure gamer all this stuff but a lot of this if I was to hear someone for example celebrity gets on oh wow he was on Aiden great oh my God he was on Logan Paul and Mike m great sure influence yeah I can't believe Logan had him on I get it Jake actually broke down a 32-minute video to explain why he's voting I think that translates you get young voters to say that's right right that doesn't make any sense what are you talking about this doesn't make any sense Chris again the sport of politics how big you're in this space you've been in it your entire life your father's a two-term governor your brother's a governor so it's not like you how big of a deal was this for young voters to flip like this and be inspired to come out and vote for Trump"
Kirk emphasizes the importance of reaching diverse audiences, particularly young people, through unconventional platforms like TikTok. He recounts stories of Hispanic, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander waiters and waitresses in Las Vegas who approached him for photos, having discovered him on TikTok.
This underscores the potential for conservative voices to connect with demographics that may have traditionally been more aligned with the Democratic party. Kirk's success on TikTok suggests that the conservative movement is making inroads with younger, more diverse voters, which could have significant implications for the 2024 election and beyond.
The discussion also touches on the changing dynamics of political discourse, with the rise of alternative media platforms and the challenges faced by traditional media outlets. Kirk's comments on the "bro" label and the dismissive attitudes towards platforms like Joe Rogan's podcast highlight the ongoing tensions between established political narratives and the growing influence of non-traditional voices.
As the 2024 election approaches, the role of social media and the ability to reach diverse, younger audiences will undoubtedly be a key factor in shaping the political landscape. Kirk's success on TikTok serves as a testament to the power of unconventional strategies in engaging with the electorate and potentially swaying the outcome of future elections.
Part 1/7:
The Rise of Conservative Influence on TikTok
The Power of Social Media in Shaping the 2024 Election
Based on the attached transcript, it's clear that conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has found immense success in leveraging the TikTok platform to reach and influence young voters.
The TikTok Phenomenon
Kirk describes the staggering viewership numbers he's been able to achieve on TikTok, with individual videos garnering 50 million, 138 million, and even 226 million views. He notes that this level of engagement on TikTok far outpaces what he sees on other social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Part 2/7:
Kirk attributes this success to TikTok's unique ability to connect with the "working class" and "muscular class" - janitors, waiters, Uber drivers, and others who may not be as engaged on traditional media. He notes the platform's diverse audience, with strong representation from Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American viewers.
The October 7th Turning Point
Kirk believes the events of October 7th, which led to a proposed TikTok ban, were a pivotal moment that opened the door for his team's success on the platform. He theorizes that the ban, which was tied to concerns over anti-Israel sentiment, prompted TikTok to become more receptive to conservative voices.
Part 3/7:
Part 4/7:
The Impact on the 2024 Election
Kirk believes that his TikTok success, combined with other factors like Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition and the indictments against Donald Trump, could pave the way for a major comeback for the former president in 2024.
He cites a Wall Street Journal article that highlights the significant shift in young voter support, with Trump gaining a 14-point lead among men under 30 and narrowing the gap with women under 30. Kirk attributes this to his team's efforts to reach young voters through platforms like TikTok, as well as Trump's own outreach through college events and popular podcasts.
Part 5/7:
Part 6/7:
The Importance of Reaching Diverse Audiences
Kirk emphasizes the importance of reaching diverse audiences, particularly young people, through unconventional platforms like TikTok. He recounts stories of Hispanic, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander waiters and waitresses in Las Vegas who approached him for photos, having discovered him on TikTok.
This underscores the potential for conservative voices to connect with demographics that may have traditionally been more aligned with the Democratic party. Kirk's success on TikTok suggests that the conservative movement is making inroads with younger, more diverse voters, which could have significant implications for the 2024 election and beyond.
The Evolving Landscape of Political Discourse
Part 7/7:
The discussion also touches on the changing dynamics of political discourse, with the rise of alternative media platforms and the challenges faced by traditional media outlets. Kirk's comments on the "bro" label and the dismissive attitudes towards platforms like Joe Rogan's podcast highlight the ongoing tensions between established political narratives and the growing influence of non-traditional voices.
As the 2024 election approaches, the role of social media and the ability to reach diverse, younger audiences will undoubtedly be a key factor in shaping the political landscape. Kirk's success on TikTok serves as a testament to the power of unconventional strategies in engaging with the electorate and potentially swaying the outcome of future elections.