Every four years, in numerous cities, mayoral elections are held. This year in New York City, their election has gained strong traction across the United States. The three candidates have all garnered attention on social media, specifically Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo, who represent opposing ideas.
Zohran Mamdani is a young democratic socialist who is running with the pursuit to lower costs and make the average New Yorker’s life easier.
Andrew Cuomo, an experienced independent, is running with the motives to boost morale within the NYPD and overall public safety.
In the recent mayoral debate, Cuomo was asked what he would have done differently if he could begin his campaigning again. He believed that his shortcoming was social media, explaining that he wished he could have created more content on his platforms.
In a recent study, they found that 80% of all Americans were divided by political values that the parties considered nonnegotiable. In fact, close to 50% of Americans see the opposing sides as extreme and unjust.
Social media has made way for chambers that run through our world, like veins pulsing beneath skin. Now, there is less incentive to communicate with opposing opinions, as people can create an entire community solely revolving around their beliefs online.
Mamdani has used his social media platform to curate support for his campaign, making it primarily funded by grassroot advocates.
Celebrity endorsements and news channel appearances are not unique to election campaigns, however, Mamdani also focused on directness and authenticity in his content.
One week before election day, he hosted a conference where influencers of various platforms and political knowledge could ask him questions about his plans as prospective mayor.
His Tik Toks are dynamic, colorful, and short formed. They reflect today’s trends, and the content young people tend to consume. As Cuomo competitively began to do more interviews and create more content online after seeing the growing support for Mamdani.
As younger generations begin their stride into the political sphere, we are able to witness the ways younger politicians can connect with their audience. Cuomo witnessed positive results from taking more action and being more vocal of his ideas on social media.
If Mamdani wins, he would be the first millennial mayor in history.
Social media can no longer be considered as a plain form of entertainment. It has become a powerful tool used globally to stay informed and create change. Activism, campaigning, executive decisions are all being broadcasted through social media platforms. As we continue to see younger generations step into roles of power, social media will only grow in its usage.
This leaves younger people with great power. More than ever before, we have an ability to interact with our leaders and create trends. Just as Mamdani’s campaign was funded primarily by his supporters, we may see more and more politicians gaining attention through the digital sphere.
