Creators also realize their own political power, and it’s not restricted to politically focused creators like Hasan Piker. MrBeast, known widely for his philanthropic work, announced earlier this year that he would run for president if he were old enough. When content creation is already a gateway to bigger careers in industries like entertainment and fashion, it’s unsurprising that politics could be an increasingly popular option.

Voting with views

Young audiences want to know their favorite creators’ political views because they want to support creators whose beliefs align with their own. According to McKinsey’s research, Gen Z has embraced content consumption as an expression of their identity and morals. This could be why politicians contentify their approaches or seek voters through the content they’re consuming.

The same behavioral trends that launch careers in the ever-growing creator economy are building political movements. On platforms like X and Instagram, users are aligning themselves with politicians in a way that’s reminiscent of creator and celebrity “stan culture.” Some might say that’s a bad idea, but it could be the thing that kickstarts many young people’s civic engagement. Today’s politicians are banking on the latter.

To 2028 and beyond

With the increasing politicization of the creator economy, the nature of livestream content will also change. Like other forms of social media, live shows and their chats will evolve beyond entertainment to become the places where we discover new products and services, transform our opinions and ideals, and connect with new communities. All these trends will lead to more creator-friendly platforms, or legacy platforms will have to adjust their strategies to give creators the reins.

As the creator economy continues to grow, so will its political influence. Like any major industry, it will become a hotbed for lobbyists, the subject of new legislation, and the audience of new campaign promises.