Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used multiple digital platforms for political communication, including Instagram, Twitter, and Twitch.

Digital Political Communication

Congressional Campaign (2018) Ran a campaign with significant digital and social media outreach, combined with grassroots organizing, to defeat ten-term incumbent Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary.

Early Congressional Era (2019-2020) Used Instagram Stories for policy explanation and behind-the-scenes political content, gaining a large following on the platform.

Platform Expansion (2020-Present) Expanded to Twitch, notably streaming the game Among Us in October 2020, and continued active use of social media for political engagement.

Communication Style

AOC’s digital presence includes:

• Conversational, direct tone across platforms
• Use of Instagram Stories for policy education
• High-profile streaming on Twitch, drawing large audiences
• Real-time responses to political events and criticism
• Cross-platform content adaptation for different audiences
• Integration of pop culture and politics in digital content

Her social media use included direct constituent engagement and explanations of policy issues across platforms.