Merrick Hanna has quickly risen to fame as a leading TikTok creator. At just 19 years old, he boasts an impressive following of over 32 million on TikTok and around 20 million across other platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. His content primarily features dance videos paired with trending audio clips and popular songs.
Attending the Democratic National Convention (DNC) marked a significant departure from Hanna’s usual content focus. Initially uncertain about the decision, he took inspiration from his grandmother, who reminisced about her volunteer experience at the DNC in 1960, encouraging him to participate.
“I’ve never made a video even talking vaguely about politics,” Hanna reflected after the DNC concluded. Despite his reservations, he embraced the opportunity to represent the event and share his experience with his vast audience.
Hanna found himself among over 200 content creators at the DNC, a notable increase compared to the Republican National Convention held previously. This attendance is part of a broader strategy by the Democratic Party to engage younger voters who often bypass traditional political news channels in favor of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
The DNC is banking on mobilizing voters under 30 this fall. With an increasingly influential electorate ready to make their voices heard, aligning with digital influencers is seen as key to reaching this demographic. However, many influencers, including Hanna, prefer to maintain a neutral stance without pushing personal political views.
Despite collecting hundreds of thousands to a million views per video, Hanna admitted some criticism arose from his attendance. Balancing entertaining content while avoiding deep political discussions proved challenging for him.
Reflecting on the DNC, Hanna stated, “I enjoyed the convention, but navigating how to integrate it with my style was tricky.” He stressed that while he cherished the experience, he does not aim to become a political creator. “The DNC is kind of a one-time event for me,” he concluded.
Democrats Expand Digital Strategy
The Democratic Party has a history of collaborating with influencers, notably during President Biden’s 2020 campaign. This year, creators attracted over 350 million views at the DNC, showcasing the effectiveness of this outreach strategy.
Other creators encountered similar challenges as they navigated their political presence online. Nadya Okamoto, a lifestyle influencer, admitted the discomfort of balancing her entrepreneurial identity with her civic involvement. Despite her nervousness, she chose to maintain her usual content style while discussing her support for candidates like Kamala Harris.
Creators like Tori Dunlap, who specializes in financial literacy for women, experienced a drop in followers when they announced their participation in the DNC. Dunlap lost around 10,000 Instagram followers but stood firm in her belief that attending the event was vital for encouraging civic engagement.
“It’s not an airport. You don’t need to announce your departure,” she remarked, reinforcing that individuals have the choice to engage—or disengage—with political discourse on social media.
As political engagement continues to rise among younger Americans, the intersection of social media and politics becomes increasingly relevant. With nearly 41 million Gen Z voters newly eligible to participate in the upcoming presidential race, their potential influence is undeniable.
