Every four years, the people all over the United States spend almost a year of their lives debating, arguing, and overall getting very passionate about the presidential election. This passion creeps its way onto social media platforms like YouTube, and sites are abuzz with election coverage.
The average YouTuber who takes interest in their government will no doubt want to give their opinions, but there are a few things you should remember about making political YouTube videos.
1. You can’t please everyone.
This rule is even more relevant in politics than anywhere else. Beyond the obvious division of Democrats and Republicans, there are so many lines drawn between and within political parties that it will make your head spin.
Don’t be afraid of some negative feedback, maybe even a lot of it. If you aren’t careful, you can come off as insulting, condescending, or offensive.
Take a look at the Vox video below. They often toe the line with political discussions, and sometimes their videos end up at almost half dislikes.
2. Be understanding of opposing ideas.
People like to say the country is divided, but at the end of the day we are all Americans, and we all want what is best for the country and its people. The best way to end a discussion at best or have it devolve into insults at worst is to start ignoring what people who disagree with you think. Considering the opinions of others always helps to strengthen your own opinions or maybe even change them.
In a country where Donald Trump is the president-elect, many on social media want to either trash him or praise him, but the most agreeable and sensible option for discussion on YouTube is to take a sensible approach that considers both sides.
3. Don’t be neutral if you want to speak out.
While keeping bipartisanship in mind as mentioned above, you should never silence yourself if you want to speak out about something. The whole point of politics is to share your opinion and consider the opinion of others. A big mistake for people is to try to please everyone; sometimes you just have to take a stance on something.
If you hate Trump, make a video about it. If you love Trump, make a video about it. At the end of the day controversy producers exposure. However, it is important to remember the next tip.
4. Support yourself with evidence.
YouTube video creators who want to have a serious discussion about politics on their channel should always support what they say with facts. A surefire way to garner hate from both sides of the aisle is to make unfounded arguments and statements.
A persuasive, factual, logical video portraying your view can rake in thousands or millions of views, and it might even change some minds. In the end, YouTubers should be doing their research.
Take this Vox video, for example, that uses persuasive evidence to build an argument.
It can be tempting to jump right into the fray and start making political videos, but any video producer should take a moment to consider a few things before putting his or her opinion out on the internet. Considering the opinions of others while still standing your ground, and supporting what you say with facts is the safest way to make sure you don’t look offensive or tasteless. Keep these four things in mind, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a YouTube political star.
Interested in getting your YouTube video discovered by masses of targeted fans? Click this link: www.promolta.com
Sean Harris is a writer in the midwest US who plans on majoring in computer science or physics at college. He enjoys listening to music, blogging, and reading.
Leave a Comment