Who Really Runs the Show?
Let’s be honest, if Taylor Swift posts a voting link on her Instagram story and 23,000 people register to vote the same day, that’s not just influence. That is authority.
These days, celebrities are not just making cameos in our playlists or movie nights; they have started showing up in our politics. Once upon a time, the people shaping public discourse were politicians, economists, and social scientists. Now? It’s musicians, actors, influencers. And they’re not just supporting causes, they’re shaping narratives, changing minds, and sometimes even laws.
But here’s the thing. Just because someone can influence doesn’t mean they always should.
When social media replaces the classroom
Social media made this shift prominent. In the past celebrities would share their political views or beliefs in interviews or during their shows. But now celebrities are given the stage, the microphone, and an always-listening crowd from their homes. In the past, if you wanted to understand policy, you would have read an article or watched a debate. Now? You might just scroll TikTok.
It’s not inherently bad. People are more engaged. But it raises questions.
If the first political opinion you hear comes from someone whose music or movie you’ve loved since high school, does that sway you more than facts? If they say “vote,” do you vote? Or more importantly, do you ask why?
This is not to shade on any celebrity using their platform. Honestly, some of them are trying to do good. However, as someone who has watched both politics and pop culture unfold, I’ve noticed something: we don’t always challenge celebrity opinions in the same way we challenge experts. There’s less pressure to provide evidence; its usually about the ‘vibes’.
The Halo Effect is real
There’s a psychological term for this: the Halo Effect. Basically, if we admire someone in one area, we assume they’re trustworthy in other areas as well. So if your favorite actor supports a policy, it suddenly feels… right. Convincing. Safe even.
Credit: Icon made by Juicy_fish from Freepik.com
Also it’s not new. The UN has used celebrity ambassadors for years to spread messages. But the difference? Back then, it was structured; experts in the background, message vetted, goal clear. Today? It’s a tweet. A story. A caption. No middleman, no filter.
And the scary part? Is that this makes it stick even more
But what about the experts?
Meanwhile, the experts, those with years of study, data, and lived experience, are getting drowned out. Remember during COVID-19 when there was a mix of information from health organizations, politicians, and celebrities? Expertise didn’t matter as much as optics.
Even within government systems, experts often hold less power than the politicians they serve. Imagine spending your life studying disease outbreaks, only to be overruled by someone more concerned about a headline than a health guideline.
Celebrities, though? They bypass that whole structure. Kim Kardashian advocated for prison reform, and Congress listened. Not because she’s an expert but because she’s her. That level of access, that kind of power, is not purely influence. It’s currency.
So what now?
I’m not saying we should cancel celebrity voices in politics. They often bring attention to overlooked issues, and that matters. But we have to ask: are we holding them to the same standards we demand from experts? Are we checking the sources? Or are we letting popularity set the bar for truth?
Because here’s the cost: when policy becomes a popularity contest, evidence takes a backseat. And that is dangerous.
But not all is lost.
There is a new kind of figure emerging, political commentators who blend expertise with accessibility. They understand the data but also know how to connect. They invite discussion. They challenge echo chambers and make space for complexity.
They are not perfect, but maybe they’re a step toward balance.
Final thoughts
We live in a world where a tweet can start a movement and a livestream can shift national conversation. That power is incredible. But it also comes with responsibility ours, not just theirs.
It’s easy to nod along with someone you admire, harder to stop and ask, “Do they really understand this issue?” And let’s be real: when you build your identity around a public figure, challenging them feels like challenging yourself.
Before we share, repost, or rally behind someone’s opinion, maybe we pause and ask: Is this just loud, or is it true? Do I admire them? or do I actually agree?
ArrowsInk 
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