“Urging Influencers to Influence: The Relationship Between Social Media Influencers and Public Responsibility”

Writer: Ava Colangelo

Editors: Gwen Ericson, Sanya Shah, Ashley Herrera

The Scarlet Forum Vol. 1 — May 2026

Social media, the beloved apps most of the world use on a daily basis, are no longer used just for leisure. Many of the viewers on popular apps, such as Instagram and Tiktok, have turned to these platforms to get their daily news insights. As more and more political issues arise in the media, the younger generation has turned to their favorite content creators to hear these issues being spoken about; however many have failed to. The silence shown by content creators during these turbulent times, regarding politics, introduces the question of whether or not content creators have a public responsibility to speak on issues, when they obtain their platforms. 

Since the 2020 quarantine era, a study conducted by the Pew Research Center showed that one in five Americans alone rely on TikTok as their daily news source, as opposed to a cable source (Matsa & Tomasik, 2025).  The study then showed, “Adults ages 30 to 49 have also increasingly been getting news on TikTok: A quarter now say they do so regularly, up from just 2% five years ago.”(Matsa & Tomasik, 2025). While social media users absorb the information being given to them through apps like Tiktok, users also begin to expect their favorite “influencers” to use their platforms as a way to speak on issues happening in our society on the daily. 

In January of 2025, Donald Trump was inaugurated into his second presidential term, and quickly began enforcing ICE raids around the country. Recently, the I.C.E raids happening across America have caused an outpour of emotions on social media; but they have also caused commotion among content creators and their large number of followers. Many everyday users of Tiktok have come out posting videos stating, “ICE OUT” and “You cannot convince me not to love my neighbors.” Influencer Brett Chody posted a video in January speaking out against the ICE raids in Minnesota, with a caption stating, “If you aren’t outraged you should be.” While many  “influencers” like Chody have spoken out against I.C.E, those who haven’t have raised questions regarding which side they agree with due to their silence on the matter. 

The concept of staying quiet about politics went away in 2020, after the brutal murders of several Black-Americans under police brutality. As the “Black Lives Matter” protests began to arise all around the world, the political conversations being had through social media introduced the concept of urging influencers to speak out on these matters. The younger generations have learned that they no longer have to sit and just absorb the news through the television, but with the help of social media they can partake in speaking out on politics and worldly issues occurring. 

As the media vastly becomes society's new source of news, information on political issues and movements spread like wildfire. In the article, “How Social Media Can Shape Public Opinion – and How We Can Build a Healthier Online Environment”, published by Georgetown University it states,

“When something goes viral, it goes viral because a whole lot of people take action, hitting the like button, the retweet button, the share button. A whole lot of people decide that a piece of content or theme is so emotionally resonant, they are motivated to propel it onward. The audience collectively influences what gets seen by sending a signal to an algorithm, as opposed to in other media ecosystems where an editor, curator or publisher has the power to make that determination” (How Social Media Can Shape Public Opinion, 2025).

Algorithms on apps like TikTok are catered to what the viewer enjoys interacting with, or more importantly who the viewer enjoys interacting with. When users enjoy a certain content creator, or “influencer’s” videos, it is easier to notice whether or not these creators have spoken up about the prevailing issues unfolding in our everyday society. While many do speak out on these issues, those who stay quiet are those that receive the largest amount of backlash; as their silence is easily interpreted as ignorant.

Why Do Users Place Public Responsibilities on Influencers? 

Regular news sources, such as CBS and FOX News, tend to avoid bias when speaking about politics in the media. Many social media users gravitate to certain influencers, and more importantly expect things from these influencers, because they feel these influencers share content that is both impactful and relatable in their lives. Being an “influencer” with millions of followers was never a real career option until recent years, which is another reason expectations are set on these influencers to speak on issues; as their followers are the ones setting up their career from the start. It is as if followers of a content creator believe in a loyalty between creator and follower, and as a result place a responsibility onto said influencer to speak out in support of those affected by political issues; like the ICE invasions. One of the largest influencers to come out of Tiktok is Alix Earle, with a following of 5.6 people just on Instagram. Her fans have created somewhat of a parasocial relationship with her, where they urge influencers to speak out and yet defend Earle when she did not speak up immediately either. This double standard is one of many reasons why influencers have become comfortable with not speaking out.

Is it Being Honest or Being Ignorant? 

We as individuals have created the idea that speaking up against something will do no good, as we are only “one person”; and what difference could only “one person” do? The truth is, however; that being the “one person” that speaks up can then urge five more to speak up, and then ten more, and so on. In order for influencers to speak up however, it would have to come from a genuine place. @Maggieeatsss on TikTok, stated shortly after President Trump began an ICE raid throughout the United States, that she didn’t see a point in speaking on politics as they don’t “apply much to her.” She received floods of backlash immediately in response to her video, specifically being called out for her ignorance to the matter. If we are urging influencers to speak up on their platforms, is it only to hear the side we agree with? As politics have become infiltrated into our daily conversations, the honest answer is yes we do want to hear influencers speak against the matter rather than stay modest or silent. Politics are no longer something we hear about on the news that affects what our school lunches look like. Politics today are a matter of life and death for many, the notion that “justice and freedom for all” only apply to some. This is why so many look to influencers to speak up, as a way of saying “we have supported your growing platform, now it is time for you to show that you support the right side of America.” For many, speaking up or staying silent is the fine line that determines how we perceive others, especially on social media.