Senate lawmakers turn to online content creators to push legislation

Social media influencer and wedding dress designer Hayley Paige is set to testify at a Senate hearing about banning noncompete agreements, the latest example of how members of the Senate are using online influencers to push their policy initiatives and educate the public about their legislative efforts. Paige, who has over 1.1 million followers on Instagram, was forced to stop designing dresses after her former employer sued her under a noncompete agreement, which limits workers’ ability to continue to work in the same industry. Paige was not only chosen to testify because of her direct experience with noncompete agreements, but also because of her online reach. The hearing comes as political leaders and major government agencies are seeking to build and tighten their relationships with online content creators, often working with influencers to push their messaging, rather than relying on traditional media. The White House, which has been briefing influencers and working with them to push key policies throughout the Biden presidency, is set to host its first creator economy summit on August 14, with dozens of content creators and industry leaders set to attend.