Voters deserve transparency from paid social media influencers

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Social media influencers are increasingly being paid by political campaigns to promote candidates and issues, often without clearly disclosing these arrangements. This lack of transparency raises concerns about voter deception and has prompted calls for updated regulations requiring explicit labeling of paid political content online.

The increasing use of social media influencers to shape political messaging is raising concerns about transparency in election-related content. Influencers, once primarily associated with lifestyle and consumer products, are now frequently engaged to promote politicians and political issues—often without clear disclosure that such posts are paid advertisements.

Prominent examples include Instagram accounts like @becky.in.chicago, where influencer Rebecca Lehmann conducted a paid interview with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson discussing his plans for community investment. This video was labeled as a paid partnership, a disclosure that experts say is crucial as Johnson is expected to announce his re-election bid soon. Lehmann defended the payment, emphasizing the professional effort behind content creation and her transparency in this case.

However, not all influencers maintain such openness. Josh Greene, a social media personality known as “Josh the Progressive,” has a large following and has interviewed political figures including Senator Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. According to investigative reports, Greene has received thousands of dollars from political campaigns, including a payment exceeding $21,000 from former California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer. The footage Greene posted featuring Mayor Johnson was not identified as sponsored content, and the Johnson campaign did not respond when asked for clarification.

Campaign strategists acknowledge the significance of securing social media exposure. Johnson’s campaign director Christian Perry described paying for influencer content as a modern equivalent to purchasing television airtime, noting it is simply a reflection of changing news consumption habits rather than a nefarious tactic. Politicians across the political spectrum increasingly rely on social media to reach voters, aware that paid influencer content can amplify their message beyond traditional advertisements.

Despite this growing practice, the regulatory framework governing political advertising on social media remains fragmented. While campaigns must report payments made, there is no consistent legal requirement compelling influencers themselves to reveal when they have been compensated for promoting a candidate or cause. Experts and observers argue that this lack of transparency allows political messages to be presented in a misleading way—as if they represent genuine, unpaid opinions—potentially confusing voters.

Advocates for reform suggest that the Federal Election Commission update regulations to mandate clear disclosures, such as “paid for by” notices on influencer content funded by campaigns, mirroring existing rules for television and print advertisements. Until such measures are implemented, voters are advised to exercise caution and skepticism when encountering election-related content online, as the origins and financial backing behind many posts remain opaque.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.