The old-timers who make up the majority of Congress shouldn’t have control of the internet domain they know frighteningly little about and refuse to learn.
While technology is now an integral part of our society, older politicians have neglected to keep up and retain a deeper understanding of the internet, especially social media.
A Sept. 30 video clip of Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut went viral on Twitter after he asked Facebook’s Head of Global Safety Antigone Davis if the company would commit to ending “finsta.”
Finsta is not a product of Facebook or Instagram; but, instead it’s a slang term for private Instagram accounts created to post content and interact with accounts in a private way, reserving it to closer friends, according to Merriam-Webster.
This misunderstanding isn’t because finsta is a new trend among teens. In fact, I was aware of finsta accounts over a decade ago when I was in middle school.
Blumenthal’s lapse in comprehension represents a larger disconnect between old, rich politicians and the influential internet culture that exists across the U.S.
There are many benefits of government involvement in social media culture when used efficiently.
Politicians may use it to engage with supporters, facilitate communication during a crisis, respond to false claims and procure grassroots funding, according to an Oct. 22, 2020 Ohio University article.
The skill of understanding and maneuvering social media takes time and practice to master, and older politicians aren’t putting in the effort.
It’s not enough to have an aid or intern rush through an explanation of what TikTok is before drafting legislation on how it’s used.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri sponsored a 2020 bill to ban the TikTok application on all government devices, according to the Library of Congress.
“TikTok is a Trojan Horse for the Chinese Communist Party that has no place on government devices-or any American devices, for that matter,” Hawley said, according to his website. “TikTok has repeatedly proven itself to be a malicious actor but Joe Biden and Big Tech refuse to take the threat of Chinese espionage seriously.”
Although Hawley successfully stoked fear in many older conservatives, there’s no evidence of “overtly malicious behavior similar to those exhibited by malware” by TikTok, according to a March CitizenLab study.
CitizenLab is a digital platform used by local governments and organizations to facilitate efficient governance and engage community members in decision making, according to its website.
Hawley’s “Big Tech” conspiracy reveals the pointless fear many conservative politicians have because they don’t fully grasp the influence social media has on daily life.
As author Andrew Smith said, “people fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer.” Smith is an award-winning young adult novelist known for his books, “Grasshopper Jungle” and “Winger,” according to his website.
This fear may be amplified by the few younger politicians who confidently navigate social media culture.
Leaders including Congressional Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib attract millions of followers across social platforms. The four are also referred to in congress as the original members of ‘The Squad,’ according to a July 16, 2019 CNN article.
Members of “The Squad” are known for being the most progressive Congress representatives and are attempting to challenge the Washington establishment, according to the same article. Much of their support comes from their high engagement on social media.
Ocasio-Cortez and Omar hosted a Twitch stream in November 2020 playing the video game “Among Us” with various internet and gaming celebrities to a crowd of 440,000 people, according to an Oct. 20, 2020 Wired article.
Although conducting livestreams may attract hives of internet trolls aiming to spam the chat with hateful speech, their communication with the public should set a precedent for future politicians.
Social media is the perfect way for politicians to stay in touch with the people they govern. It’s no surprise old representatives seem to be the most disconnected to their voters and society.
Hillary Clinton’s famous attempt to indulge her young supporters led her to capitalize on the popularity of 2016’s “Pokemon Go” video game by urging voters to “Pokemon Go to the polls” at a campaign rally, according to a July 16, 2016 CNN article.
However, social platforms are best used by government officials to remain knowledgeable about relevant issues for the sake of their constituents, not to pander to the internet-savvy youth.
It’s politicians’ responsibility to understand the bills they vote on. In the same way, they should be required to participate in social media to better understand the society they make changes to.
