Brendan O'Connor

“Younger people are grasping for authenticity” - Mark Little

Oct 26, 2025
Mark Little, an entrepreneur and journalist, explores the intricate landscape of modern politics through the lens of the recent presidential campaign. He highlights how online culture has reshaped voter engagement, particularly for Gen Z, who seek authenticity over traditional news. Little discusses the emergence of different online realities impacting political perceptions and the importance of emotional connection, particularly noted in Catherine Connolly's campaign. He argues that humor and genuine content resonate more with younger audiences than engineered virality, emphasizing the evolving nature of political communication.
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INSIGHT

Three Online Realities Shape Politics

  • The idea of a single shared reality is breaking down into three online-driven realities: literal, virtual, and insurgent.
  • Politics now emerges from those online realities rather than from a common public sphere.
INSIGHT

Algorithms Replace Appointment News

  • Younger people consume political content by algorithmic collision rather than scheduled news, so timing and format differ from older generations.
  • A large content library that aligns with interests gives candidates repeated algorithmic exposure.
INSIGHT

Insurgent Tribes Move From Fringe To Power

  • The insurgent reality includes people who feel excluded from society and form tribal online communities.
  • Those tribes can move from fringe to mainstream political force when they find a voice.
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