The 2018 American Music Awards hit the lowest amount of viewers in the AMA's history. The three-hour long show received an average of 6.8 million viewers, which is about 3 million less than last year. This isn't the only year that the AMA's views have decreased and not the only award show as well. In fact, in January, the Grammys also hit their lowest viewers since 2008.

So, what could be the cause of these lower rankings? While politics have always been somewhat included in award shows, has it gone so far to drive viewers away?

Historically, award winners have pointed to specific issues affecting our current political climate or some cause the celebrity supports. However, within the last few years, it has become more pointed to specific people.

With viewers slowly decreasing while political slurs to politicians grow, it's safe to say that there's a negative correlation between them both. This could easily be a cause of shows receiving fewer viewers every year, along with the lower rankings.

Imagine, you're watching a three-hour show of celebrities making fun of your beliefs or the person you're planning on voting for. Would you keep watching? Would you come back next year to watch the same show with the same belief shaming?

Recently, Taylor Swift spoke out on her Instagram about not supporting Marsha Blackburn for Senate and how she will instead be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. At the end of the post, she encourages fans to go out and vote.

Blackburn quickly answered saying how she does support women and wants to end violence against women. She even states how she is active in abuse centers as well as child advocacy centers.

While there is no issue for telling fans to go out and vote, it's important to let the fans (of any celebrity) to do their own research as well as make their own opinions.

A voter should not be swayed by what their favorite celebrity has to say about a politician.

While this can hurt the celebrity by causing them to lose a fanbase (the Dixie Chicks for example), it can also make fans feel as though their opinions aren't important, invalid, or even wrong.

It's great that Swift caused such an uproar in voter registrations and that more peoples' voices will be heard due to that. Even so, her, and any celebrity really, could easily persuade their fans to simply vote without telling them who to vote for.

As a student, I hope that you do your research and vote for what you think is right for our society. Go to vote.org for more information on how to register.