Because of the age of social media, where people across the globe are constantly using their phones, being trendy is necessary for marketing success. In August, the Democratic National Convention gained traction for its new approach of campaigning Kamala Harris for president. On social media, they used memes like Kamala is Brat and brought in social media influencers to get their followers engaged. Their approach invites a growing generation of Americans to get involved with U.S. politics and vote.

This could be the start of a new age of politics, where policy-based conventions are outdated, and this flashy and engaging type of convention is welcomed.

Along with this, Harris’ media team has been extremely active on social media, appealing heavily to Gen-Z audiences. This was a shift towards the more superficial political rallies by the Right. This change was a long time coming, considering how easily Trump wields his audience with little discussion of policy, and with how well this strategy has worked out for him, it only makes sense that the Democrats would try something similar.

This begs the question: is that what the people want? It seems like leaning into a few key phrases and conjuring up grand ideas was all Trump needed to win. Trump has gained an immense following without an in-depth discussion of policy.

By leaning into pop culture and presenting herself as less of a politician and more of a celebrity, Kamala Harris has gained popularity, however, this focus on popularity over policy feels like a step away from what politicians should be doing, helping the people.

This is, unfortunately, the easiest way to gain attention in a nation where attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, and time spent on the internet and social media is getting longer. People don’t want to hear about policy, they want to see viral moments. This is the way that political influence and success is trending, not through political ability or competence, but by making the opposition appear inferior.

Considering how well this strategy is working for Harris, there is little to no way they are going to return to the dry and boring, albeit informative, DNCs of the past. This is an improvement in some ways, as it’s clear that people are not interested in these types of conventions.

That’s why Trump, an exciting, energetic, and controversial figure who preferred simple slogans and vague ideas has taken America by storm. However, this creates a toxic political atmosphere, as a continuation of what Trump has normalized is only going to plunge American politics further into a pit that will be difficult to climb out of.

Harris’ strategy is not too harmful now, but if continued it may lead to an even greater degradation of truthful politics. Overall, what the Democrats are doing is a necessary evil, and, for the time being, it prevents more harm than it causes.