Hasan Piker expressed his lack of spark for any current candidate, stating, “If I’m young, I don’t see anyone right now that is captivating me.” While pollsters credit young voters for Biden’s victory in the last election, recent polls suggest a shift in their support. According to New York Times/Siena polls, Biden is trailing behind Donald Trump in battleground states, except for Wisconsin, which could be attributed to the youth vote.
Streamers like Piker hold significant influence online and could impact the upcoming 2024 election. Samuel Drzymala, founder of Progressive Victory, a liberal group collaborating with streamers on get-out-the-vote initiatives, highlighted the power of Twitch’s format for discussing issues in-depth and potentially changing minds.
Progressive Victory’s successful transition of online activism to real-world action was evident in an Ohio canvassing event where 20 streamers and 300 volunteers knocked on 40,000 doors for state progressives. While Drzymala’s focus is on electoral politics, Piker prioritizes issues advocacy, aiming to make a difference in causes he believes in rather than electoral outcomes.
Hattamer’s initiative, #PassTheHat, connects online creators with families in Gaza to raise funds for their evacuation, medical expenses, or rebuilding efforts. Operation Olive Branch verifies and pairs families in need with online creators, allowing them to share the family’s story and fundraising efforts until their goals are met. As the political landscape evolves, the effectiveness of deeply engaged online communities versus mainstream influencer collaborations remains to be seen.
