Emergency Edition: Democrats, Stop Being So Cringe

Young voters want truth and authenticity.

Democrats, we need to talk. This week’s social media attempts were rough – so rough that we need an emergency edition to break it all down and a serious reality check.

Since the start of the year, I’ve stuck to a Tuesday/Thursday publishing schedule. But after watching a wave of poorly executed Democratic content flood the internet, I couldn’t sit this one out.

It started with nearly two dozen Senate Democrats posting almost identical Instagram reels with the caption “Sh*t That Ain’t True” ahead of President Donald Trump’s address to Congress. Then came another reel based on a months-old, viral ‘choose your fighter’ TikTok trend – repackaged with high-profile Democrats. Instead of landing with their intended audience, both efforts backfired. Republicans like Charlie Kirk called the Senate Democrats’ reel strategy “fake and staged,” while the White House rapid response account on X called the choose your fighter video out for what it is: “cringe.”

Screenshots from Senate Dems’ Instagram feed.

Young voters are looking for answers

The futile social media plays come as every hour, if not minute, young Americans are getting real-time alerts about how Trump (and yes, Musk) are dismantling core government systems – rolling back federal employment protections, gutting funding, and targeting programs that could directly impact their futures (including internship and educational programs).

But instead of addressing this reality head on, leveling with constituents and listening to their concerns, Democrats are opting to use their time to create social media memes that fail to address the gravity of the situation many Americans feel they face.

Young people especially are looking for stability, clarity, and answers. Right now, neither party is delivering a message that truly resonates.

Where do Democrats go from here?

If Democrats want to connect with young voters and gain their trust, they need to pivot their strategy immediately. Here’s where to start.

First, stop posting TikTok trends from two months ago and focus instead on providing answers to a demographic sorely in need.

If you want to reach young people or people at all you need to be authentic. That means posting non-scripted content and certainly not using a blanket template meant for copy and paste. It means literally going face-to-camera (yes, hold the phone yourself) and being yourself.

What are your unfiltered thoughts on what Trump, Musk, and his other allies are doing. What are you hearing from your constituents? What are your TRUE thoughts when the cameras are off?

The people want to know.

Do you believe in DOGE/governmental reform but a different version of it than ending USAID? Say that.

Address the fact that Americans are struggling to afford eggs, groceries writ large, their rent, college education, and acknowledge that for many young people, the American Dream feels like a bygone relic of the past.

Then offer your path forward.

While Republicans have control in D.C. and Democrats can’t pass bills, Democrats need to spend time on the ground in their districts and hold town halls. AOC and Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10) are good examples. Go live on Instagram and answer your constituents’ questions. Curate relationships with non-traditional messengers like podcasters, influencers, athletes, etc.

Stop playing by the rules and pretending to have moral high ground. Just be you and say what you would when the cameras stop rolling.

The bottom line

Democrats do have an opportunity, but they’re wasting it. Be less scripted. Be more direct. And more importantly, address your constituents' concerns.