What's the role of the political influencer? If people were calling me a fed I would be livid. Because it would imply that everything I have done up until that point is tainted, and that I have ulterior motives for something I feel passionate about. So when I watch this video, I can sympathize with the frustration.  We all know what co-optation is. For those who don't, it's when a power structure pulls in key members of the opposition and grants them an elevated status through special treatment. I'll say that again so we can spot it when we see it. Co-optation is when power structures pull in key members of the opposition and grants them an elevated status through special treatment.  This in turn creates a aura of distrust and delegitimizes the efforts of those key members. It creates infighting and division. because it exposes radical movements most vulnerable unanswered question. Do we fight the system or be the change? This outcome is expected from the power structure and is a reliable tactical decision.  We are the siblings of the Black Lives Matter movement which was the siblings of the Occupy Wallstreet movement which was the children of the the civil rights movement. Political influencers are not journalist. The idea that someone can speak up for or out against an issue 2 millions of followers across multiple platforms is a new phenomenon. Therefore, the role of the political influencer in our society is ill defined. Journalist, whether you think they adhere to it or not have an ethical code that they follow. They have protections under our constitution. If a political party revokes access to a journalist or a news outlet that's a big deal However, if a political influencer were to suddenly stop being invited to the White House, no one would say too much about that.  But Vee and Pearl are not journalists. They are political influencers. That's not a slight that's just a fact. V themselves have said as much. The problem is the role of political influencer in our society is ill defined. Contemporary social media is a new phenomenon. And those who have dedicated their digital identities to speaking out against issues is even newer.  So because this role is ill defined.