8/10/26, 6:00 AM
Aura farming, reaction videos, memes, and carefully staged “spontaneous” moments – a digital barrage we all scroll through daily, thinking that these are just candid, unscripted glimpses into a politician’s life. In reality, we are the targets of a brutally precise product launch, tailored to the algorithm. After all, politicians today rarely campaign on policy platforms, instead, they market themselves as meticulously crafted brands. This is one consequence of the professionalization of politics. Successful mobilization today depends on producing platform-specific, emotionally charged content, manufacturing an illusion of authentic everyday life, and outsourcing negative campaigning to influencers. But how do these catchy marketing phrases translate into tangible, vote-winning strategies in practice?