Why Is Kamala Harris So Popular with Young Voters?

Summary

The video explores Kamala Harris's sudden surge in popularity among young voters, following her unexpected rise as the US Democratic presidential candidate. Highlighting her social media strategy, which capitalized on viral memes and TikTok trends, the video delves into Harris's demographic appeal as a mixed-race woman and her stance on key youth issues like abortion and the Gaza conflict. It questions the impact of social media and youth voter turnout on the 2024 election, suggesting that Harris's campaign has resonated with Gen Z, potentially swaying the election's outcome.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The video discusses the sudden popularity of US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on social media, particularly TikTok, due to a viral moment from a speech quoting her mother's saying about young people existing 'in the context of all in which you live and what came before you'.
• 🔍 Kamala Harris's campaign has capitalized on the viral moment by matching the color and font of their social media branding to that of pop star Charli XCX's album 'BRAT', which appeared to endorse Harris.
• 📈 Despite initial low approval ratings, Harris's popularity has surged, especially with young voters, and she may have overtaken Republican candidate Donald Trump in the polls for the 2024 US presidential election.
• 📊 Harris's approval ratings have seen a significant increase across various demographics, including women, minorities, and notably white voters, whom she has gained six points with, according to an NPR poll.
• 👧 There has been a particularly sharp increase in Harris's support among young voters, who were previously less enthusiastic about voting for Joe Biden.
• 📲 Harris's social media campaign strategy has been highly effective, especially on TikTok, where her hashtag 'Harris 2024' ranked high on the trending list, outpacing Biden's campaign and other major political moments.
• 🎓 The demographic appeal of Harris to Gen Z may be due to her being a mixed-race woman of color, which aligns with the younger generation's preference for diversity in politics.
• 🗳️ Young voters are more likely to turn out for Harris, as indicated by a significant increase in voter registration on vote.org following her rise in the polls.
• 💬 Key political issues for young voters, such as abortion rights and the war in Gaza, have been effectively addressed by Harris, which may contribute to her increased popularity among this demographic.
• 📹 The video emphasizes the power of social media and young voter turnout in shaping election results, highlighting the importance of engaging with Gen Z.
• 🌐 The video is sponsored by Nebula, a streaming service co-owned with creators, which offers original content and ad-free viewing of TLDR videos, among other features.

Q & A

What was the context of the viral moment involving Kamala Harris and her mother's saying?

The viral moment occurred during a 2023 speech where Kamala Harris quoted her mother's saying, 'I don't know what's wrong with you young people, you think you just fell out of a coconut tree,' emphasizing the importance of context in understanding one's surroundings and history.

How did Kamala Harris's social media presence evolve after the viral moment?

Following the viral moment and the subsequent lime green memes, Harris's social media team adapted by changing their branding to the trending lime green color and leveraging her communication style into a likable online presence.

What was the initial reaction of young voters to Kamala Harris's vice presidency?

Initially, young voters were not very enthusiastic about Kamala Harris. A poll before Joe Biden's withdrawal had Harris losing to Trump by 19 points with voters under 34 years old.

How did Kamala Harris's popularity change after Joe Biden's withdrawal?

After Joe Biden's withdrawal, Kamala Harris's popularity surged, especially among young voters. Polls showed a significant shift towards her, with an 18 to 20 percentage point lead over Trump among under 30s.

What role did social media, particularly TikTok, play in Kamala Harris's popularity with young voters?

Kamala Harris's social media campaign, especially on TikTok, played a significant role in her popularity. Her campaign leveraged viral memes and hashtags, which resonated with the platform's predominantly young user base.

What demographic changes were observed in Kamala Harris's approval ratings after she took over?

Kamala Harris experienced a broad-based increase in approval ratings, including a notable spike with white voters who previously favored Trump, and a significant increase with young voters.

How did Kamala Harris's stance on key issues affect her popularity among young voters?

Kamala Harris's strong support for abortion rights and vocal support for a ceasefire in Gaza resonated with young voters, who are generally more pro-choice and pro-ceasefire than other demographics.

What was the impact of Kamala Harris's demographic background on her appeal to young voters?

As a mixed-race woman of color, Kamala Harris may have appealed to young voters who value diversity in politics, as suggested by polls indicating that under 30s believe politics benefits from the inclusion of young people, minorities, and women.

How did Kamala Harris's campaign adapt to the popularity of the 'coconut tree' meme?

Kamala Harris's campaign capitalized on the 'coconut tree' meme by aligning their social media branding with the trending lime green color and embracing the meme's popularity to connect with young voters.

What was the significance of Charlie XCX's endorsement of Kamala Harris on social media?

Pop star Charlie XCX's endorsement of Kamala Harris on Twitter, following the release of her album 'brat', coincided with the lime green color theme of the memes, which Harris's campaign then mirrored, potentially enhancing her appeal to young voters.

What is the role of Nebula in providing news content, as mentioned in the script?

Nebula is a streaming service that offers original content and news curation, including TLDR videos, aiming to provide a more manageable and relevant news experience, helping viewers stay informed without information overload.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Kamala Harris's Unexpected Popularity with Young Voters

This paragraph discusses the sudden surge in popularity that Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, has experienced among young voters after taking over from Joe Biden. Initially, Harris faced low approval ratings, but her popularity has skyrocketed, especially with young people who were not very enthusiastic about Biden. The paragraph highlights a viral moment from a speech where Harris quoted her mother's saying, which led to a series of memes and social media engagement. It also mentions pop star Charlie XCX's apparent endorsement of Harris, which influenced the campaign's branding. The video aims to explore why Harris is so popular with young voters and the potential impact on the 2024 US presidential election.

05:01

📈 Understanding Harris's Appeal to Gen Z Voters

The second paragraph delves into the reasons behind Kamala Harris's popularity with Gen Z voters. It outlines three main factors contributing to her appeal: her social media campaign strategy, which capitalized on the virality of TikTok memes and adjusted branding to align with Charlie XCX's album 'brat'; Harris's demographic as a mixed-race woman of color, which resonates with young voters valuing diversity in politics; and her stance on key political issues important to young voters, such as abortion rights and support for a ceasefire in Gaza. The paragraph also discusses the significant increase in voter registration and potential voter turnout among young people following Biden's withdrawal and Harris's rise in the polls, suggesting that social media and youth engagement could play a crucial role in the election outcome.

Keywords

💡Nebula

Nebula is the streaming service mentioned in the video that the creators co-own with various content creators. It is used as an example of a platform where viewers can watch original content and stay updated with curated news videos. The video script mentions it as the service that brings the video to the audience, indicating its role in content distribution and viewer engagement.

💡Tik Tok memes

Tik Tok memes refer to humorous images, videos, or text that are widely shared on the social media platform Tik Tok. In the context of the video, these memes are about the US Democratic presidential candidate, Camela Harris, and they have contributed to her popularity, especially among young voters. The script describes how a quote from Harris's mother became a viral moment, leading to a surge in meme creation and sharing.

💡Camela Harris

Camela Harris is the US Democratic presidential candidate discussed in the video. She is portrayed as having gained significant popularity, particularly with young voters, due to a viral moment and effective social media strategy. The script highlights her unprecedented popularity and the potential influence this might have on the 2024 US presidential election.

💡Gen Z

Gen Z refers to the demographic cohort following the Millennials, typically those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s. The video emphasizes the importance of Gen Z in the upcoming election, noting that Harris's popularity and social media presence have resonated with this age group. The script provides statistics and examples of how Gen Z's engagement with Harris on social media platforms like Tik Tok has increased.

💡Social media campaign strategy

The social media campaign strategy is a key aspect of Harris's outreach to voters, especially the younger demographic. The video describes how Harris's team capitalized on the virality of a quote and associated memes, adjusting their branding to align with popular trends and effectively communicating with Gen Z voters through platforms like Tik Tok.

💡Charlie XCX

Charlie XCX is a pop star mentioned in the script who appeared to endorse Harris on Twitter. This endorsement, following the release of her album 'brat,' influenced Harris's campaign team to match the color and font of their social media branding to that of the album, further increasing Harris's appeal among young voters.

💡Approval ratings

Approval ratings are a measure of public opinion about a political figure's performance. The video discusses how Harris's approval ratings initially fell into negative territory but then skyrocketed after she took over from Joe Biden, suggesting a significant shift in public perception and a potential impact on the election outcome.

💡Demographic

Demographic refers to the statistical study of populations based on factors such as age, race, and gender. The script notes that Harris, being a mixed-race woman of color, may appeal to Gen Z voters who value diversity in politics, contributing to her popularity within this demographic.

💡Abortion

Abortion is a significant political issue discussed in the video, particularly in relation to young voters' preferences. The script contrasts Biden's and Harris's stances on the issue, suggesting that Harris's pro-choice position and vocal support for abortion rights have endeared her to young voters.

💡War in Gaza

The war in Gaza is a geopolitical conflict that has been a point of contention among different voter demographics. The video suggests that Harris's position on advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza has resonated with young voters who are generally more pro-ceasefire than other age groups.

💡Voter turnout

Voter turnout refers to the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. The script highlights the potential impact of increased voter turnout among Gen Z due to Harris's popularity and social media engagement, which could significantly influence the election results.

Highlights

Nebula sponsors a video discussing Kamala Harris's lime green meme phenomenon and its impact on her popularity with young voters.

Kamala Harris's quote from a 2023 speech about young people thinking they 'fell out of a coconut tree' went viral, leading to a series of memes.

Pop star Charlie XCX's endorsement of Harris on Twitter after the release of her album 'brat' influenced Harris's campaign branding.

Despite memes not being a reliable indicator of political sentiment, Harris's popularity with young voters is a genuine political phenomenon.

Harris's approval ratings significantly increased after taking over from Joe Biden, potentially making her the favorite for the November election.

Harris's surge in approval ratings is broad-based, including a notable increase with white voters, a demographic previously shifting towards Trump.

Harris's campaign strategy on social media, particularly on TikTok, has been highly effective in engaging young voters.

Harris's demographic as a mixed-race woman of color may appeal to Gen Z's preference for diversity in politics.

Young voters prioritize issues like abortion and the war in Gaza, where Harris's stance contrasts with Biden's, potentially increasing her appeal.

Harris's social media campaign has seen a massive spike in views, with 'Harris 2024' becoming a trending hashtag on TikTok.

After Biden's withdrawal, young voter turnout increased significantly, with many new voter registrations coming from the under-35 age group.

Harris is aware of the importance of winning over Gen Z and has stated that their vote must be earned.

The 2024 US presidential election will test the power of social media and young voter turnout in shaping election results.

The video discusses the role of Nebula, a streaming service co-owned with favorite creators, offering original content and ad-free news.

Nebula News provides a curated selection of important news videos, helping viewers stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

Viewers are encouraged to sign up for Nebula through the provided link for a discount and to support the video creators.

Transcripts

this video is brought to you by nebula

over the past few weeks Tik Tok has been

full of lime green memes about the US

Democratic presidential candidate camela

Harris after this moment from a 2023

speech in which Harris quoted one of her

mother's old sayings went viral

everything is in context my mother used

to she would give us a hard time

sometimes and she would say to us I

don't know what's wrong with you young

people you think you just fell out of a

coconut

tree you exist in the

context of all in which you live and

what came before you it spawned a host

of edits themed around the Mario Kart

racetrack coconut mall then pop star

Charlie XX appeared to endorse Harris on

Twitter following the release of her new

album brat leading Harris's campaign

team to match the color and font of

their social media branding to that of

xcx's album now in general memes aren't

a great indicator of actual political

sentiment but Harris is apparent

meability reflects a genuine political

phenomenon and that's her unprecedented

popularity with young voters who weren't

all that enthusiastic about Biden but

have since swung massively towards

Harris so in this video we're going to

try our best to explain why camela

Harris is so popular with young people

and how much influence it might have on

the 2024 US presidential

[Music]

election before before we start if you

haven't already please consider

subscribing and ringing the bell to stay

in the loop and be notified when we

release new videos but first let's start

with a quick recap when camela Harris

took over from Joe Biden last month many

Democrats were nervous about her

electability Gary yeah

yeah I'm going to be

president of course you are her approval

ratings fell into negative territory in

mid 2021 won and have hovered at around

minus5 ever since in June 2023

broadcaster NBC even claimed that Harris

was the least popular vice president

since the 1980s as Harris had a net

approval rating of minus 17 worse than

each of Trump's VP Mike Pence Obama's VP

Joe Biden Bush's VP tick Cheney and Bill

Clinton's VP Al Gore but something

changed once Harris took over her

approval ratings immediately skyrocketed

and several polls are now suggesting she

may well have overtaken Republican

candidate Donald Trump to become the

overall favorite for the November

election now Harris's poll surge has

been impressively broad-based she's seen

a sharp Spike with Women Voters and

minorities as you might expect but she's

actually doing impressively well with

white voters who were previously

shifting towards Trump in fact according

to the latest NPR poll Harris has gained

six points with white voters in the past

week or so coming in at 46% support this

is pretty impressive as especially when

you consider that no Democrat has ever

scored that high with white voters at an

actual election since Jimmy Carter in

1976 nonetheless even if Harris's surge

has been relatively broad-based she's

seen a particularly sharp Spike with

young voters interestingly even though

young voters weren't exactly infused by

the prospect of voting for Joe Biden

before his withdrawal some polling

suggested they were actually even less

keen on Harris a Quin Pac poll done just

before Biden dropped out for instance

had Harris losing to to Trump buying

astonishing 19 points with under 34s

with Harris on 39% and Trump on

58% this was even worse than Biden who

was losing to Trump at the time by 17

points with Biden on 37 and Trump on 54

these numbers were pretty appalling

given how Democrats have dominated with

young voters in recent elections however

polling done in the immediate aftermath

of Biden's withdrawal found that young

voters had swung massively towards

Harris

a New York Times Sienna College poll

from Late July showed that Harris had an

enormous 18 percentage point lead over

Trump among under 30s far wider than the

Gap among older age categories while

another poll led by axus generation lab

put a lead over Trump at 20 percentage

points this seems to be mostly driven by

the fact that young voters are

significantly more likely to actually

turn out for Harris a morning consult

poll from earlier this month found that

more than half of swing state voters a

between 18 and 34 said that they're

likely to take part in the November

election now that Biden has left the

race According to vote.org which

encourages voter registration in the 48

hours after Harris replaced Biden voters

aged under 35 made up 84% of its new

signups with 18-year-olds alone making

up

18% the platform says four in five of

those who register on the website

typically cast a ballot which would

suggest that turnout among gen Z could

in fact be higher than it had been in

previous elections so why is Harris so

popular with Gen Z we've got three main

reasons but if you think of any more do

add them in the comments the first is

Harris's social media campaign strategy

after an onslaught of Tik Tok memes

inspired by Charlie xx's album brat and

often tanked under the hasht C love

Harris's social media team have heavily

lent into this swiftly changing their

account branding to the trending lime

green color and managing to turn

Harris's slight rambling and often

ineffective communication style into a

sort of likable Quirk online this has

gone hand inhand with a massive spike in

social media views with the hashtag

Harris 2024 ranking fourth on Tik tok's

list of trending hashtags in the US in

Late July her Tik Tok campaign also far

outstripped the momentum of Biden's

within a onewe period and also exceeded

the Tik Tok hype generated by major

campaign moments like the Biden Trump

debate and even the Trump assassination

attempt obviously you don't need us to

tell you that it's genz who use Tik Tok

the most with

47.4% of Tik Tok users in the US aged

under 30 the second is Harris's

demographic there's data to suggest that

gen z may be drawn to the fact that

Harris is a mixed race woman of color

half Indian and half Jamaican and not

just another old white dude to be clear

we're not saying that old white men

don't have a place in politics or

endorsing this sort of identity politics

but polling suggests that young voters

are more likely to Value diversity in

politics and this might help explain her

appeal in this demographic a ugra survey

from June 2024 showed that a majority of

under 30s believe politics is better if

young people minorities and women are

elected and 52% of under 30s compared to

just 36% of over 30s believe that race

and diversity is a major factor in the

presidential vote the third is Harris's

Politics the two political issues that

are disproportionately important to

young voters are abortion and the war in

Gaza with young voters generally being

more pro-choice and more pro- ceasefire

than other demographics Biden's

unwillingness to focus on abortion and

his relatively pro-israel position as a

self-described Zionist didn't help him

with young voters Harris on the other

hand has lent heavily into abortion as a

campaign issue and has at least been

more vocal in her supports for a

ceasefire describing the situation in

Gaza as intolerable all in all the 2020

4 US presidential election will be a

real test of how powerful social media

and young voter turnout could be in

shaping the results Harris herself is

aware of the need to win over gen Z

having said at the end of July we know

young voters will be key and we know

your vote cannot be taken for granted it

must be earned and that is exactly what

we'll do so we'll have to keep an eye on

the messaging that falls out of the

coconut tree over the coming months and

whether genz is do pick it up and run to

The Ballot Box or just continue making

memes on Tik Tok big sister

[Laughter]

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