This report examines the roles of popular content creators on social media, called influencers, in elections. We draw on examples from around the world to showcase the varied political roles influencers take on. Far beyond
simple advertisers, influencers shape narratives, interpret news, and impact voter behaviour. They can also spread mis- and dis- information, be incorporated into foreign interference campaigns, and be used to evade existing laws and regulations impacting elections. The roles we examine are: advertisers, celebrity endorsers, campaign volunteers, media outlets, data brokers, journalists, and lobbyists.
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Suggested citation (APA):
Dubois, E., & Stahl, L. (2025). Influencers and Elections. Pol Comm Tech Lab, University of Ottawa. https://www.polcommtech.com/research/influencers-and-elections
Dubois, E., & Stahl, L. (2025). Influenceurs et élections. Labo Pol Comm Tech, Université d'Ottawa. http://fr.polcommtech.com/aipolitics-report
This report has been made possible by the University Research Chair in Politics, Communication and Technology and the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue at the University of Ottawa.
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