Political Propoganda
Sriya Vemuri | Nov. 5, 2024 | Arts & EntertaiNMENt
Throughout the course of American history, political propaganda has been used to influence the opinions of voters. In political science, propaganda refers to any kind of messaging put out to benefit one’s side including political cartoons or social media posts. At Stanton College Preparatory School, current and future voters must cautiously navigate through propaganda to form their own opinions. It continues to be an evolving force, especially seen within the 2024 election season.
“Campaigns [started] using propaganda as early as elections even existed, “ said Sean Freeder, assistant professor of political science at the University of North Florida. “A lot of the same substance we see today is the same substance we saw back in the day.”
Traditionally, propaganda was used in a variety of ways to shape public perception including political cartoons, pamphlets, speeches, and more. Dating back to the 1800s, it was used by rivaling parties to push their own agendas. Over time, the medium of propaganda has modernized. Even so, it still plays a large role in shaping public opinion.
In the 2024 general election, propaganda has been a major force of influence on voters. Democratic and Republican party candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have employed propaganda to spread their political agenda across different platforms. Today, social media has become a battleground for political messages. It is a place where candidates can push their own agendas and where students encounter propaganda.
“I’ve definitely seen propaganda since this current election cycle has started, especially on social media,” said sophomore Sophia Venturello.
One particular type is transfer propaganda which is when a figure associates their brand with a well-liked thing or idea to gain favor from its audience. During the recent campaign, Vice President Harris gained attention for using digital platforms to spread propaganda for her campaign. After pop star Charli XCX linked Harris with her “BRAT” album, Harris continued to push this connection to establish an online presence, even changing the background of her social media accounts including TikTok, X, and others to the green style of the album.
Harris uses this iconography to appeal to younger audiences, taking advantage of the digital landscape to connect with them. While she takes on a range of unique campaign techniques, former President Trump has also employed his own methods involving influencers on social media.
According to USA Today, Trump has used podcast appearances as a form of propaganda. He has appeared in interviews with influencers such as live streamer Adin Ross and social media influencer Logan Paul. These appearances aim to reach these creators’ audiences. Because of propaganda's large presence online, it is important to cautiously navigate digital platforms. What some may assume is an ordinary post may just be propaganda.
“We’ve already seen [propaganda] used by both parties [in this election]. When you see a campaign message, you are seeing some form of propaganda,” said Freeder. “Now, [with] social media, the difference is that anyone can spread it.”
Although using propaganda as a persuasive tool is not new, today’s digital era offers modern ways to spread political agendas. In the heat of the 2024 election season, political propaganda continues to emerge as a force uniting and dividing citizens.