- Biden meets with influencers: They are the future
U.S. President Joe Biden has praised influencers on social media as the future of communication and news. "You are the future," Biden said during a meeting with a group of influencers in Washington. The seven-time grandfather said his grandchildren no longer consume news in the traditional way with newspapers or television, but through social media. "You are the source for their news," he told the influencers. The 81-year-old praised creators of digital content for changing "the entire dynamic of how we communicate." That's why he invited the group to the White House, he joked. "Because I'm looking for a job."
Biden had recently withdrawn from the race for a second term and will be jobless come January 2025. The Democrat faced immense pressure from his own party due to his age and doubts about his mental fitness. In his place, Vice President Kamala Harris (59) will now run as the Democratic candidate in the November election.
More and more people wanted to get into the business of digital content and become influencers, Biden said further. "What do you think if I retire?", he said to laughter. "I have connections." The industry is now making billions. "I'd love to talk about borrowing money from you," he joked. "I may look like I'm 40, but I've been around for a while." And it's never been worse with the division in the country and the way people interact in politics.
Biden speaks of trust erosion
There are so many lies being spread, Biden lamented. People don't know what to believe or who to trust. "There's such a trust erosion." But influencers on social media can still cut through with their messages in a way that's never been seen before, "at least in the 800 years I've been around." The biggest plus for influencers is that they are trusted. Biden also said, "You all understand that you have the responsibility to (...) say what you believe is true."
Biden took several jabs at traditional media. A lot has changed there, he criticized. It's all about clicks now, and if you want to appear in the news, you don't do it by doing something positive, he added with a touch of bitterness. The national press isn't particularly crazy about him, "but I like them."
Biden expressed his optimism about the role of influencers in the upcoming #USelection2024, stating, "You all have the power to shape the narrative and influence people's decisions." He also acknowledged the influence of social media, saying, "The way people consume news has changed dramatically, and influencers like you are at the forefront of that shift."
