What is Clout on Social Media?
The word clout on social media generally refers to the number of followers or contacts one has. platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn use an algorithm that puts content in front of people based on how many people follow the person who made the content. Controversial YouTubers will make videos discussing ways to get “clout.”
This usually means they are talking about ways to game the system or exploit a loophole. Clout can also be bought and sold. People with a lot of followers can be payed to post sponsored content from brands. Clout is a vertical of social capital.
They were payed for their social media influence, not because they produce good content. Some people also try to gain clout by artificially inflating their follower count through bots or other methods. This is generally looked down upon because it’s considered dishonest.
So, in short, social media clout generally refers to the number of followers one has, but can also be used more broadly to refer to the artificial inflation of one’s online presence.