Gen-Z thwarted fear-mongering attempts to influence the 2024 election
November 20, 2024
Celebrities and popular Gen-Z publications thought they could fearmonger Gen-Z into swaying an election and continue to try to instill fear over its results. However, with more than 270 electoral votes, and a popular vote win, this proved to be fleeting.
As Donald Trump swept every battleground state and comfortably clinched traditionally red states, voters ages 18-29 hit the polls in an unexpected way. In Texas alone, an AP exit poll indicated that this age group went from 35% in favor of Trump in 2020 to a majority 51% in 2024.
Social media, celebrities, and publications such Teen Vogue — all popular among Gen-Z — were hard at work during the campaigns and following the election are breeding misinformation and convincing young people that their world is over as they know it because Trump is president once again.
One Teen Vogue article claims, “If acted upon, Project 2025, a far-right transition plan meant for the next Republican president, would also significantly erode LGBTQ rights. The plan prioritizes the “biblically based” family structure, which may impact the right to LGBTQ marriage. It also threatens to erase LGBTQ people from federal protections entirely.” Trump has not indicated support for the Project 2025 conservative think-tank policy wishlist at this point.
Another article “discusses what happens when protesting becomes a crime.” Teen Vogue’s op-ed claims the multiple pending bills restricting protesters from blocking traffic and clogging public areas are infringements on the First amendment right to protest, mainly because pro-Palestinian protestors often use this tactic. The author then proceeds to cite a Politico article that states “If he [Trump] wins, he reportedly plans to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military to put down any opposition protests…”
Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel cried, “It was a terrible night for women, for children, for the hundreds of thousands of hard-working immigrants who make this country go, for health care, for our climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech. It was a terrible night for poor people, for the middle class, for seniors who rely on Social Security, for our allies in Ukraine, for NATO, for the truth and democracy and decency.”
BuzzFeed posted the reactions from female celebrities to Trump’s historic win. Singer Billie Eilish, who took Gen-Z by storm, said, “Someone who hates women so, so deeply is about to be the president of the United States of America.”
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis said Trump’s win “means a sure return to a more restrictive, some fear draconian time. Many fear their rights will be impeded and denied. Many, minority groups and young people will be afraid.”
With the amount of content generally directed towards young people that exhibit this type of apocalyptic outlook on the next four years under Trump, it speaks volumes that the turnout from the 18-29 age group was in favor of Trump this election cycle.