Do we expect too much from influencers and celebrities? In 2026, it seems that the line between politics and fame is blurred. Celebrities and influencers are expected to be vocal about social and economic issues like never before.

Growing up in the early 2000s-2010s, the only thing that the media cared about when it came to celebrities were what they were wearing, who they were dating, how much they weighed and who hated who. There was no discussion about who or what they stood for. However, we now live in a time of influencers who hold the same amount of fame as a Kardashian. These influencers mostly reside on TikTok, which makes it so that these “celebrities” are now accessible to us in ways that they never were before.

We now hold an expectation that if you can post about the food you eat and the clothes you buy, you can post about your political stance. Even users whose content is all comedy skits and sketches get questioned and berated in their comment sections, asking about their political views. And while I do admit that it’s nice to know when your favorite content creator stands for what you believe is right, is it really necessary? Yes, these people have platforms with tons of impressionable followers, and it is wise in this day and age to let people know where you stand. But I’ve noticed that if you don’t speak up constantly and continue to do your regular content, all hell breaks loose.

Controversy recently sparked when content creator Alix Earle appeared in Bad Bunny’s “Casita” during the Super Bowl halftime show. Even though this made it clear that she was on the side of love being more powerful than hate, people went wild. They believed that this wasn’t OK because she hasn’t spoken out about any recent issues surrounding ICE and immigration. The argument is that she doesn’t need to because her content is more about lifestyle and going out and not political, but it’s countered by the fact that other content creators, such as Karissaeats, who makes food content, makes her views clear while sticking to her regular content.

But having a huge platform also means you need to be careful about what you say.

In 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement was extremely relevant, and the pressure was on for everyone to post and discuss the matter. Many influencers were in hot water because they were accused of misspeaking, spreading misinformation or speaking over Black voices. Since then, I’ve seen how many influencers take a step back or take some time before they discuss an issue because they don’t want to only speak out of pressure and fear (causing misspeaking), and rather talk about an issue when they have done research and feel they’re educated enough.

Personally, I do think that if you have a big platform, it’s important that you are open about things that you care about politically and socially to spread awareness or share resources. But I don’t think someone should be pressured into it and cause them to misspeak. More people need to speak out and stand for what’s right, and I encourage all people, no matter the platform, to talk about it in a safe way.