OnlyFans creator Farha Khalidi has recently accused the Biden administration of hiring her to secretly promote political content, claiming that she was instructed not to disclose that her social media posts were paid advertisements. Khalidi’s allegations suggest that the administration sought influencers who could help portray a favorable image of the president without revealing the orchestrated nature of the endorsements.
Khalidi alleges that she was specifically chosen because the administration wanted someone with darker skin to disseminate their messages, aiming to target diverse demographics on platforms like TikTok. She was reportedly told by representatives of the administration that while her videos were essentially advertisements for their political messages, she should not disclose them as such because they did not promote a tangible product.
This strategy, according to Khalidi, was part of a broader effort by the Biden team to enhance the president’s image among young voters, a demographic that heavily consumes content on social media platforms. The content she was asked to create was described by Khalidi as “full on political propaganda,” a directive that left her disillusioned about the authenticity of political support in modern campaigning.
NEW: OnlyFans creator Farha Khalidi says she was paid by the Biden Administration to spread "political propaganda" & was told to not disclose her videos were ads.
Everything about Biden is fake.
Khalidi says the Biden admin reached out to her because they wanted someone with… pic.twitter.com/CQ40K5IHID
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 28, 2024
The incident has raised significant concerns about the ethics of such undisclosed promotional activities. If true, these actions could represent a manipulation of social media to create a false sense of grassroots support, commonly referred to as “astroturfing.” This term describes efforts by sponsors to support a person or a program while appearing as spontaneous, popular “grassroots” behavior.
Moreover, Khalidi’s experience has brought to light the potential for political campaigns to exploit social media’s influence on public opinion, especially among younger audiences who may not readily distinguish between organic posts and sponsored content. This practice, while not new to digital marketing, carries different implications when used in political contexts, where transparency and honesty are paramount.
The revelations have contributed to ongoing discussions about the integrity of political communication in the digital age. They underscore the necessity for clear disclosures of sponsored content, especially when such content can significantly influence public perception and voter behavior. Critics argue that transparency in political advertising is crucial to maintaining a fair democratic process, especially as social media continues to play a pivotal role in how information is shared and consumed.
The Biden administration has not yet responded to these allegations, leaving the public to ponder the veracity of Khalidi’s claims and the ethical boundaries of digital political campaigning.