---
title: "Watch – Inside South Africa’s nano-influencer campaigns: Politics meets paid promotion"
description: "Daily Maverick's Rebecca Davis talks about what's actually shaping online political discourse in South Africa right now — and spoiler alert: it’s not ideas, policies, or even real people."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "VIDEO"
author: "Rebecca Davis"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/rebeccadavis-2-2/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-12-watch-inside-south-africas-nano-influencer-campaigns-politics-meets-paid-promotion/"
published: "2025-05-12T08:55:50"
updated: "2025-05-12T08:55:53"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 45
---

# Watch – Inside South Africa’s nano-influencer campaigns: Politics meets paid promotion

> Daily Maverick's Rebecca Davis talks about what's actually shaping online political discourse in South Africa right now — and spoiler alert: it’s not ideas, policies, or even real people.

By Rebecca Davis · Published 12 May 2025, 10:55 SAST · Updated 12 May 2025, 10:55 SAST

## Key points
- In a world where nano-influencers are the new political puppeteers, it seems that even the smallest voices can orchestrate the grandest campaigns—just remember, it’s all in the art of paid persuasion!
- The rise of nano-influencers highlights the growing trend of micro-targeted political campaigns.
- Paid partnerships often blur the lines between authentic engagement and strategic manipulation.
- These influencers wield significant power in shaping public opinion, despite their smaller followings.
- The phenomenon raises ethical questions about transparency and accountability in digital marketing.

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEUpPhcJK2o)

Reporting by: Rebecca Davis
Produced by: Emilie Gambade
Edited by: Malibongwe Tyilo
Filmed by: Bernard Kotze
Sub-edited by: Kevin Flynn

Read the [full story](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-03-its-all-fake-nano-influencers-and-their-paid-campaigns-to-stroke-political-egos/) on Daily Maverick
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