Are the 2024 presidential campaigns Too Online?

There's a certain kind of person you don't want to be Too Online. I'd be uneasy, for instance, if my brain surgeon had a vast meme collection — put down the phone, pick up the scalpel. Politicians, however, are in a more complicated position. In 2024, it's impossible to run an effective campaign while ignoring the internet, especially since millions of Gen Zers will be eligible to vote for the first time in this election. But it's easy for campaigns to cross the rubicon from effectively using the internet to being Too Online. There is the risk of confusing online noise for meaningful outreach, fringe concerns for real issues, and engagement as good press. I'd argue that the pendulum has swung too far. Today's presidential campaigns are Too Online, and it's to the point where real-life issues might get lost in the noise of memes and digital posturing. This isn't to say both campaigns are the same; they're not. However, both candidates have leaned heavily into online spaces, albeit very differently. Kamala Harris' campaign has embraced popular internet trends like "Brat Summer" and viral TikTok sounds like Chappell Roan's "Femininomenon" to court young voters. Donald Trump's camp, on the other hand, has veered into race-baiting edgelord memes, such as baseless claims about Haitian immigrants eating pets, framing it as a crucial election issue for his base. The difference remains stark: Harris risks coming across as cringe-worthy or overly focused on online voters, while Trump pushes dangerous, often fabricated ideas to rile up his fervent supporters. Campaigning in the Meme Age So, how are these campaigns "too online"? First, let's acknowledge that it's likely not actually the candidates themselves. Trump famously doesn't use a computer — his phone is seemingly just a machine for posting tweets or updates on Truth Social — and I doubt Harris or her running mate Tim Walz are scrolling all that much. JD Vance might be knee-deep in forums, but who knows? Still, it's clea