Everyone has heard of cancel culture. Your favorite artist, actor or even politician has been under the eye of cancel culture at some point or another. But why have they been “canceled?”
The rise of social media has given way for cancel culture to become a part of our online lives. We have seen how far and wide cancel culture has the ability to go, like canceling celebrities for saying racial slurs, to uncovering massive sexual abuse allegations.
Cancel culture is a form of online boycotting. As social media apps have evolved so has the idea of cancel culture. With the way apps such as TikTok work, anyone can acquire a large platform. This makes it easier for others to get influenced.
Gaining a large audience draws more attention, making it easier for others to access information that the influencer puts or has put out. Therefore this strong grasp is dangerous in the hands of the wrong person.
The various Hollywood stars’ accusations and the #MeToo movement caused a very big online commotion. Since many people do not have the access to money or a celebrity status, social media is a tool that the normal average person can use.
Online users have become accustomed to finding out about big scandals through social media platforms. This has had a large impact on the way those situations are handled and perceived leading to many positive and negative outcomes.
Due to the fact that we live in a society, as humans, we have a built-in feeling of community. Most of us want the justice executed, as we see it is correct and fair. With that being said, cancel culture seems to be looked up upon in today’s society.
Celebrities and normal civilians alike can be the target of cancel culture. Some main apps such as TikTok and Twitter are where most of these “cancellations” take place. However these “cancellations” are not always as beneficial as they may seem.
Because we are more aware of people’s actions through the internet, the call for a reprimand is immediate. This call for action has helped many victims get justice through the justice and social system.
However powerful social characters like celebrities and wealthy people are not necessarily as affected by cancel culture. Sure, celebrities get “canceled” but it only takes a few weeks for scandals to blow over and they are back to dancing on TikTok.
Wealthy people have the simple facility of paying underhanded government officials and ridding themselves of accusations. This is a disgusting thing, but it only goes to show how unaffected they are by the cries of the masses.
Another aspect of cancel culture is how it is seen as suppressing free speech. I think, in a sense, it does. Some people take to the internet to talk about their opinions about actors, electric cars, politics and other controversial topics.
But there is a line where free speech is pushed. Antisemitic and racist statements are not free speech. So when racist and disgusting people are called out for their equally disgusting words and actions, they claim that they are being “suppressed.”
Whether you believe in the left over the right or the up over the down, there is no way to please everyone on the internet. I think cancel culture has the potential to be beneficial, but it has turned into a sort of plague.
The social scene has taken to “canceling” people for about anything. I am all for “canceling” racists, abusers, and other horrendous people. But “canceling” someone just because they do not appeal to your views is what I am not okay with.
Being a strong political person myself, I am used to having people oppose my views. I feel like people need to do more research on topics before assuming a stance. As a society, if we really want to move forward and progress, we need to listen and learn more.