Two podiums. A quick one liner. A viral edit waiting to be made. You would think it’s the finale of your favorite reality show, but it’s not – it’s the presidential debate. Somehow an event meant to help viewers decide who to elect as the leader of their country has become a mere spectacle. One more about delivering a punchy soundbite than actually discussing prospective plans to improve the United States.
The days of actual policy talk are long gone. Today, a viral Tweet might just secure you the presidency. Candidates prepare for these highly watched debates not by understanding the policy they plan to implement, but by rehearsing zingers designed to trend. We are in an age where a subtle smirk or a well-timed scoff secures headlines over an economic plan. And the media? It’s part of the problem, reducing debates to a “winner” or “loser” and dropping “best moment” clips before morning even arrives.
And us, as viewers, make matters even worse. Instead of watching and absorbing we are live-commenting, mocking and meme-making in real time. Tiktok edits are viral before the debate is even over. GIFs of facial expressions become your groupchat’s favorite go-to reaction. Debate night has become a performance – one that pokes fun at the legitimacy of elections.
When this happens, policy slips into the shadows. Candidates who entertain become the focus, rather than those who inform. This skews public perception of competence, leaving qualified and educated politicians behind. Important issues go undiscussed because we are all too worried about making a funny Snapchat story. Having a good media team shouldn’t be the only requirement to leading the country.
It’s time for a change. It is not acceptable that our debates are becoming dramatic reality television. It’s time to rethink how these important events are structured, and definitely time to reevaluate how we engage with them. Moderators could prioritize important questions and real-time fact checking over flashy comebacks or exchanges. We, as viewers, could resist the urge to react instantly, sitting with the opinions we have heard in order to make educated decisions about our future. The public is in control – we don’t have to play into their spectacle.
So yes, it’s funny to open up social media and see these silly memes. But it stops being funny real fast when we realize these people aren’t comedians – they’re our president. Democracy isn’t a game show, it’s not about making good television. Stop treating debates like entertainment, they are glimpses into our future – and it might just be the season finale.
