Reality star Josh Seiter spoke with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about his meteoric rise to Internet superstardom.
Thanks to his exponential rise, he has taken the contemporary social media and Internet scene by storm and has gained a cult following by doing so.
Seiter on his latest digital milestones, his post being shared by J.K. Rowling
Most recently, Seiter’s videos have gained over 300 million views on his own social media platforms, and they have been seen by nearly one billion people over the globe, and have been reposted, shared, and remixed by other creators, including British author J.K. Rowling (author of the “Harry Potter” series).
Wikipedia describes him as a “TV personality and provocateur,” which is quite fitting for the 37-year-old law school graduate with a JD (Juris Doctor) degree.
“It’s great seeing my videos and messages shared by so many people, but the most encouraging aspect of this journey is the messages I receive,” he acknowledged.
“Knowing my videos not only provide humor but provoke thoughtful discussion about important issues is what I am most proud of,” he added.
Journey from reality TV to political and mental health activism to social media
“I have always been politically inclined,” he noted. “I majored in sociology and political science in undergrad, and later earned my Juris Doctor in law school.”
“My father was very political, so even as a six-year-old I was listening to talk radio and my father’s social commentary. When my father passed away in 2021, I made a silent promise to him to continue the good fight for truth and common sense in an age of misinformation,” he elaborated.
Seiter on the lessons learned from his political activism journey
On the lessons learned from his political activism journey, Seiter shared, “This journey has taught me there is a silent majority in this country—and across the globe—that does not believe in the dominant narrative being peddled by media and politicians.”
“The hoi polloi have basic common sense and prefer facts over delusions and science fiction. It’s actually been quite encouraging to see how my message resonates with so many,” he added.
Seiter on conducting his social experiment in 2024
In 2024, he conducted a social experience that went viral on social media, and it subsequently gained him both notoriety and even infamy.
“I have watched the world turn into a sort of Orwellian dystopia of misinformation and lies for the last couple decades,” he said. “We are being told that wrong is right and right is wrong.”
“Our language is being weaponized and turned against us, all in an attempt to gaslight the masses. It’s not only morally reprehensible, but also quite offensive,” he noted.
“I became really disenchanted with the direction of political discourse during the current presidential administration (under President Joe Biden) and decided to do what I can do combat misinformation and dissemblance,” he added.
The digital age
On being a political activist and influencer in the digital age, he said, “What’s great about living in this time in human history is the democratizing effect social media has on information and truth—if we harness it the right way. It’s very easy to get a message out to millions of people with a simple click of the button.”
‘I feel privileged and honored to live in a time where a kid from Urbana, Illinois can reach tens of millions of people with minimal physical effort. The power of social media really cannot be overstated,” he added.
Seiter on his work in the realm of mental health
On his work in the sector of mental health, Seiter stated, “Mental health is dear to my heart because I’ve struggled with thought disorders from a young age, and I was only able to control it by identifying my faulty thinking, grounding my thoughts in reality, and restructuring my fallacious thinking.”
“This is why I’m so passionate about language, truth, and reality: the second we lose sight of objectivity and reality, we become susceptible to lies, cults, and demagoguery,” he added.
Seiter on the stigmas surrounding mental health that he is trying to eliminate
“I want people to know it’s okay to struggle with your mental health, but the onus is on us to identify our faulty thinking and replace it with rational thought,” he said.
“It’s not easy, but I’ve provided a number of tools on my Instagram story highlights that people may find helpful. It does get better; but not without some elbow grease and hard work,” he added.
Best advice he has ever been given
On the best advice he has ever received, he shared, “‘If people hate you, you’re probably doing something right. If you’re not upsetting anyone, you’re probably standing for nothing.’ Another motto I live by is ‘bad press is better than no press.’ I’ve been blessed to have some sage advisors in my life that helped me navigate the maelstrom of hate I receive online.”
Best thing about being your age
On the best thing about being his age (37), he said, “Being my age has provided me enough youth to know how to operate social media in a digital age, but enough wisdom to know how to properly harness it and avoid flying too close to the sun. It’s easy to get burned in the Internet Age.”
“I’m very thankful I’m not embarking on this journey as a 25-year-old, when my consequential thinking and ability to stay grounded was more inchoate and nascent,” he added.
Seiter defines success
On his definition of the word success, Seiter revealed, “Success means pushing forward despite failure. You can’t have success without failure. The latter defines the former. Success is failing 1000 times but trying 1001 times.’
Seiter on his New Year’s resolutions
For 2025, he hopes to continue to spark conversations. “My New Year’s resolution is to continue a dialogue,” he said.
“It has become vogue to chill speech and try to shut down conversations, but freedom stands for nothing if not freedom of speech. I’m committed to opening up conversations about important topics that will affect us and our children for generations,” he concluded
To learn more about Josh Seiter, follow him on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).
