WASHINGTON, DC—OCTOBER 25: U.S. President Joe Biden holds a press conference with Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese in the Rose Garden at the White House on October 25, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The Biden campaign is actively seeking a meme lord!
President Joe Biden's reelection effort took a surprising turn when a job advertisement for a "Partner Manager, Content and Meme Pages" tasked with supervising the online meme environment was released.
TechCrunch reported that the position involves leading daily operations to interact with prominent content and meme platforms on the internet. It offers a competitive salary of up to $85,000.
In an era where digital communication reigns supreme, the concept of a professional meme curator might sound unconventional.
Yet, in contemporary politics, online engagement stands on par with traditional grassroots efforts. Effectively tapping into digital communities has become imperative for political figures, offering the potential to sway millions of voters through viral content.
Despite hurdles like the recent legislation aimed at TikTok, which President Biden signed, the campaign remains steadfast in maintaining a robust digital footprint, including platforms like TikTok, to engage a diverse audience.
In February, creator and digital communications strategist Annie Wu Henry emphasized the importance of incorporating relevant and engaging content, including memes, into digital communication strategies.
She stressed the need for strategic planning and mindfulness even in creating and disseminating light-hearted content.
Prior to recruiting a meme lord, the Biden campaign actively utilized memes as part of its voter outreach strategy.
Despite the prevalence of the Dark Brandon meme, associated with right-wing theories targeting the president, its continued presence on Biden's campaign platforms suggests its effectiveness, despite some considering it overused.
Reports indicate that Dark Brandon merchandise constituted a significant portion, 54%, of the campaign store's revenue in August last year, underscoring its popularity among supporters.
How Digital Campaigning Shapes Modern Politics
As he seeks a return to the White House, former President Donald Trump has also incorporated memes into his campaign strategy.
Following the viral circulation of Trump's mugshot, his campaign swiftly capitalized on the moment by introducing merchandise featuring the image, accompanied by the slogan "Never Surrender," including T-shirts, mugs, and beer koozies.
Biden isn't the first to recognize the influential role of online activities in electoral outcomes. Social media has long served as a crucial tool for political mobilization, but the pandemic accelerated campaigns' adoption of digital strategies.
During Ed Markey's (D-MA) 2020 Senate reelection bid, Gen Z activists nationwide initiated "the Markeyverse," an organic online movement to secure the seat for the environmentally conscious senator.
Simultaneously, the anonymous online persona, Organizer Memes, has conducted meme workshops for political groups like the South Carolina Young Democrats.
These sessions involve collaborative meme creation, discussions on effective meme crafting, and instruction on utilizing existing meme formats to promptly respond to unfolding political developments.
