Free Essay Sample on Cancel Culture

In a letter published to Harper’s magazine, 150 influential journalists warned of the dangers of the rise of ‘Cancel Culture’ (Hao). Cancel Culture and its associated animosity has harmed countless lives with death threats and unwanted revelation of personal information, which at times resulted in victims fleeing their homes. Cancel Culture is a relatively new concept that in its purest form simply allows for someone to be publicly criticized for a perceived wrong-doing or the use of a politically incorrect term. There have always been people who disagree with others and criticize them. However, in recent years social media has allowed this process to drastically escalate and threaten victims because individuals face minimal levels of accountability when hiding behind a screen. Cancel Culture is a recent phenomenon that promotes division, invites societal judgment, and enables victims to be unjustly disgraced. 

Cancel Culture in its purest form has always taken place. There has never been a time where there were no disagreements nor a time where people did not call others out on inappropriate ideas. In recent years, the rise of social media has increased the harm of calling others out. The term Cancel Culture was first claimed by  Black Twitter users in 2015 for the purpose of “...calling out friends or acquaintances” (Hao). Then in 2017, the phrase became mainstream, with the #MeToo movement. Numerous “...A-listers faced criticism over allegations of sexual harassment and abuse, and some of them were ‘canceled’” (Hao). ‘Canceled’ refers to persons on the internet calling out others with a following in hopes of the person being accused of losing their popularity and changing their seemingly egregious behavior. Unfortunately, these allegations are accompanied by numerous death threats and other intimidating acts. An activist, Suey Park, tried to cancel a comedian for a racist joke “...only to end up getting doxxed and canceled herself, with so much vitriol directed her way that she fled her home…” (Mishan). Doxxing is the act of releasing someone's personal information, typically an address, to the public and is one of the many reasons Cancel Culture is seen as dangerous. Cancel Culture has transitioned into a detrimental aspect of social media despite the notion that it was originally intended to uphold users’ accountability. 

Countless believe that Cancel Culture provides an excuse for individuals online to act as a judge and decide someone else’s fate. One could surmise Cancel Culture goes against freedom of speech because the concept demands that the accused dismantle their objectively offensive post. Cancel Culture can also lead to the extreme “...bullying, if you've been canceled, it can make you…feel ostracized, socially isolated, and lonely” (Toler). Loneliness has been proven to lead to anxiety, depression, and suicide. Cancel Culture often drives isolation; “It can feel as if everyone is giving up on you before you've even had the chance to apologize…the cancelers shut off all communication with you… robbing you of the opportunity to learn and grow from your mistakes…” (Toler).  Canceling a brand or person does not fully make them go away it just leads to much unnecessary hate. Every American citizen has a right to set their own boundaries and listen to what uplifts them, it is easy to achieve this without cyberbullying. Not only does Cancel Culture have an overwhelmingly negative effect on mental health, but it also hinders one’s ability to practice their constitutional rights without receiving persecution (Toler). 

While some argue that Cancel Culture allows for some to squash freedom of speech others explain that Cancel Culture is freedom of speech in the act. The cancellers have every right to attack those who posted an offensive Tweet or Tik Tok because they have a right to speak on what they want and share their opinion. Whoever posted the derogatory comment should be able to defend themselves and expect others to speak out against them in today’s society. Cancel Culture allows for “...marginalized people to seek accountability where the justice system fails” (Cancel Culture- Top 3 Pros and Cons). In 2018, the first year of #MeToo, more than 429 people faced 1,700 allegations of sexual assault. Without Cancel Culture many of these men would still be in positions of power. Cancel Culture helps bring about social change and is allowed by the first amendment. 

Cancel Culture and the increase in technology have allowed for much discrimination and unjust bullying online. Cancel Culture may have been happening for centuries but because bullies online do not receive repercussions for their actions canceling is typically followed by several threats. Cancel Culture has been used for much good but under most circumstances does not stand for anything other than mercilessly tormenting someone on allegations. 

Works Cited

“Cancel Culture – Top 3 Pros and Cons.” Britannica, 20 Jan. 2022, www.procon.org/headlines/is-cancel-culture-or-callout-culture-good-for-society/. 

Hao, Zhi. “10 Facts About Cancel Culture, a Term That Boomers Don’t Understand.” Goody Feed, goodyfeed.com/cancel-culture/. 

Mishan, Ligaya. “The Long and Tortured History of Cancel Culture.” The New York Times Style Magazine, 3 Dec. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/t-magazine/cancel-culture-history.html. 

Toler, Lindsey. “The Mental Health Effects of Cancel Culture.” Reviewed by Akeem Marsh, Dotdash Meredith, 21 April 2021, www.verywellmind.com/the-mental-health-effects-of-cancel-culture-5119201. 

Vogels, Emily A., et al. “Americans and ‘Cancel Culture’: Where Some See Calls for Accountability, Others See Censorship, Punishment.” Pew Research Center, 19 May 2021, www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/. 

Willingham, AJ. “It’s Time to Cancel This Talk of ‘Cancel Culture.” CNN, 7 Mar. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/03/07/us/cancel-culture-accountability-reality-trnd/index.html.