Paid influencers are everywhere in US politics. We need transparency

‘A lack of transparency is convenient for influencers capitalizing on politics. It also suits politicians because it helps them appear genuinely popular with the digital “in” crowd.’ Photograph: Hero Images Inc./Alamy

Not long ago, it was common wisdom among social media influencers that they shouldn’t talk politics. There was a widespread belief among their crowd that it was bad for business. If you went left, you lost the right, and vice-versa.

Times have changed. Nearly everywhere you look online, influencers are posting political content. Each day, there are new reports detailing their hot takes on elections, campaigns and the culture wars. It’s become a lucrative business for these creators, as they now like to be called, and a boost for those that pay them for hype.