Opinion: President Biden Taking Creative Steps to Reach Out to Younger Generations
Following the release of her debut single “driver’s license” in Jan. 2021, 18-year-old pop singer Olivia Rodrigo has become increasingly popular. More recently, on May 21st, she released her debut studio album, SOUR. The album claimed the number one spot on the Billboard 200 charts and gained the attention of millions of listeners. Even with all the fame, Rodrigo chooses to use it for the better and inspire those who look up to her.
On July 14, Rodrigo visited the White House for a press conference, where she talked about her respect for President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci for their work on the development and distribution of the vaccine. Rodrigo also went in-depth about the widespread availability of vaccine sites and emphasized the importance of younger citizens in protecting themselves with the shot.
Despite not being eligible to vote in the 2020 elections, Rodrigo has used her social media platform to call for change. She was extremely outspoken about getting her eligible followers to participate and vote in the election while campaigning for President Biden. Additionally, she held an online interview with Maisy Biden, President Biden’s granddaughter, to show her support for the Biden campaign.
Many teenagers agree that seeing their favorite artists use their platforms to advocate for social and world issues is inspiring, and that it highlights their priorities as celebrities and people. Additionally, the push for more people to get the vaccine is still prominent due to the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, and due to her large U.S. following,, the White House has been able to strategically partner with Rodrigo to encourage youth vaccinations.
President Joe Biden’s strategic plan to appeal to millions of teenagers through inviting influencers such as Olivia Rodrigo to promote the vaccine was a strategic step as younger people tend to follow the lead of people they admire. Roughly two months ago, the Pfizer vaccine was approved for ages 12-15 So, most of Rodrigo’s fan base is eligible to receive the vaccine, and may be more likely to do so after seeing her discuss the vaccine.
Moreover, it is not uncommon for a President to meet a celebrity who has accomplished great feats. However, what sets Olvia Rodrigo apart in this regard is the state of the country when she visited. The vaccine was approved for emergency use due to the pandemic, which has not been the case for other stars visiting the White House such as, Kanye West and Brad Pitt. The need for more young people to get vaccinated is urgent and Rodrigo’s fame seems to be at its peak, which has made it the perfect time to promote vaccinations.
Rodrigo’s words shed light on how vital it is to get vaccinated. Her message was aimed mainly at younger people who are not getting the COVID-19 vaccine because they do not believe they are at risk: the age range that has the lowest percentage of vaccinations is 12-15 years old. The mentality that younger people are not affected by COVID-19 is not safe at all, as young and healthy people can also be affected by this disease, so they should protect themselves by going to one of the various vaccination sites that have been set up.