Who Really Won the TikTok War for Canada’s Youth?

As the dust settles from Canada’s 2025 federal election, one clear trend has emerged: young Canadians overwhelmingly supported Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party, even though Mark Carney’s Liberals ultimately secured the win. While Carney now leads a minority government, the digital battleground tells a very different story — one where Poilievre captured the imagination of youth voters, particularly young men, through platforms like TikTok.

According to recent polling data leading up to the election, the Conservatives dominated the youth demographic, especially those under 35. On TikTok, Poilievre’s messaging — sharply focused on cost of living, housing affordability, and economic frustration — resonated deeply. His short-form, high-engagement content outpaced the more cautious and less dynamic social media presence of the Liberal Party. From nostalgic mortgage references to blunt critiques of inflation, Poilievre’s clips often went viral among Canadian youth.

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Despite Poilievre’s dominance in the digital space, it wasn’t enough to translate into an electoral victory. Mark Carney’s broader appeal across urban, multicultural, and older demographics, combined with a successful ground game in key provinces like Ontario and Quebec, allowed the Liberals to form government. Still, the numbers don’t lie — the youth vote told a different story. In populous provinces like British Columbia and Alberta, the Conservative surge among younger Canadians was impossible to ignore.

TikTok’s role in shaping youth perspectives has never been more apparent. The platform is no longer just for dance trends or memes — it’s now a critical tool for political outreach. Candidates who ignore it do so at their own peril. And while Carney won the seat count, Poilievre may have won the future, having laid the groundwork with a loyal, youthful base hungry for change.

As we move toward the next chapter in Canadian politics, all parties would be wise to study the 2025 digital playbook. The TikTok war may be over for now, but its impact will echo into the next election, and beyond.