I’ve noticed how social media has turned into a battleground where people with a following get slammed and canceled for something they said or did. It’s pretty sad how fast people can flip the script and make someone the target of all their hate.
Some people are always on the lookout for someone to blame for everything wrong in the world.
It’s unfair to hold public figures and institutions to such crazy-high standards.
The effects of Cancel Culture can be way worse than what initially sparked the cancellation.
A person can state something completely innocent, and it can quickly be labeled homophobic, sexist, or racist.
I read about a Harvard co-director of a human evolutionary class who expressed concerns about medical schools. She said that medical schools that “downplayed the reality of sex” made it harder for students to understand and help heal the human body. The next thing she knew, she was targeted by a cancel mob, with students marching around campus demanding her resignation. Due to the controversy, she couldn’t even conduct her course anymore.
This situation is just one example of how people can blow things way out of proportion. What the co-director said didn’t in the slightest warrant the backlash that she received.
Sure, sometimes people do get canceled for a legitimate reason. For instance, someone spewing hateful language at a person of color for no good reason. I’m all for calling them out.
But still, most times, Cancel Culture doesn’t hit the mark when it comes to holding people accountable.
Cancel Culture Instills Fear
On X, I came across tweets of people “canceling themselves” as a joke or maybe as preventative measures since it seems like nowadays it’s almost inevitable. It is pretty obvious that people, particularly those with a significant following, are scared to even breathe because of Cancel Culture. They’re terrified that they might slip up and say something that’ll ruin them forever.
I can understand this fear, as I’ve seen how saying or doing something even slightly off could ruin someone’s reputation.
According to The Economist, More than three out of five Americans now keep their political views to themselves for fear of backlash.
This fear is everywhere, as seen when author Naomi Riley asked to visit Liberty University for a book she was writing about religious colleges. The administration turned her down because they worried about any criticism they might receive.
Anything can get twisted and used against a person to trash their reputation, so it makes sense that people would be hesitant to comment on controversial issues.
I do see the positive effects Cancel Culture can have, such as highlighting sexual harassment and assault, like with the Me Too Movement. This movement brings awareness to sexual crimes in the workplace. It gives a voice to victims/survivors. It pushes for accountability, including examining power structures in the workplaces that enable misconduct.
But on the flip side, Cancel Culture has also led some men to claim that they are scared to even have casual interactions with women for fear of being canceled.
Cancel Culture Does Not Guarantee Change
It’s often a swing and a miss when it comes to bringing about change with big corporations, politicians, or other prominent public figures. Even when someone is canceled, it doesn’t necessarily make them undesirable or significantly impact their career.
Cancel Culture tactics are useless for many big stars. Just look at Taylor Swift. The media has tried to cancel Swift so many times it’s become a joke. In 2016, Kim Kardashian shared clips proving Taylor knew about a provocative lyric in Kanye’s song but acted like she didn’t.
Shortly after that, #TaylorSwiftIsCanceled was the newest trending hashtag, but still, she remains one of the most popular and highest-paid celebrities in the world. How ironic.
Even if what happened wasn’t that big of a deal, the media treated it like Swift was done for. Still, despite all the canceling, hardly a dent has been made in her career.
Cancel Culture Can Damage a Person’s Mental Health
Those who are canceled are publicly shamed, mocked, and shunned. It can be done with strict malicious intent to bully or humiliate a person for entertainment. If you are canceled, it can also feel as if everyone is giving up on you before you’ve even had the chance to apologize, let alone change your behavior.
Some argue that those feelings are just consequences of their own actions. Cancel Culture is supposed to be a safe space for people to express themselves. That means no more getting away with racist, sexist, and bigoted behavior or remarks.
People who own up to their mistakes or say inappropriate things are held accountable. Sarah Hagi, a writer from TIME Magazine, explains that when people use terms like “Cancel Culture” to silence her, it just shows that they’d rather she shut up and take whatever they dish out.
Yes, Cancel Culture has its upsides, but it can quickly become a hot mess. It can lead to fear, anxiety, and depression for those targeted, and more often than not, it rarely leads to any positive change.
While it’s good to call out bad behavior, Cancel Culture needs to find a better way to do it without causing so much fear and chaos.
