Is the Cancel Culture on Twitter Good or Bad, and Why

Is the Cancel Culture on Twitter Good or Bad, and Why

Twitter has, in numerous instances, helped amplify marginalized voices. For instance, the #MeToo and the #BlackLivesMatter movements are still gaining Twitter followers and global support.

However, if you’re on Twitter, you also know the platform can be unforgiving, especially due to its ‘cancel culture’.

The ‘cancel culture’ is sometimes seen as a severe form of mob justice, as it has ravaged the lives and careers of notable individuals. Famous people such as Morgan Wallen, Shane Dawson, Ellen DeGeneres and J.K Rowling are just examples of individuals who have had a bad experience of being ‘canceled’.

What Does Being Canceled Mean?

‘Canceling’ often entails boycotting a famous organization’s or individual’s work when people get upset because of something the firm or person did or said.

The purpose of being ‘canceled’ is to prevent the person or organization from professionally or financially benefiting from their position.

Today, ‘canceling’ can be referred to as a trial by social media or a form of online mob rule.

This brings us to the question, is ‘canceling’ an effective way of holding famous people accountable, or is it just a senseless form of social media mob justice that has spun out of control?

Is the ‘Cancel Culture’ on Twitter Good or Bad?

In recent years, the idea that prominent people can get ‘canceled,’ preventing them from benefiting from their prominent positions or careers, has been a source of controversial debate.

For supporters of the ‘cancel culture,’ the process is essential for rendering social justice. It’s also a way of making prominent individuals accountable for their actions, especially when nothing else seems to work.

Some see the ‘cancel culture’ as an effective tool in combating racism, sexism, and unjust acts for good reason.

For instance, after the #OscarsSoWhite movement, which involved canceling Oscars by the film community due to lack of diversity among the nominees, more minority members were included in the nominees’ list.

The #MeTooMovement is another good example of how publicly calling out famous individuals can bring about change. The exposé of sexual abuse allegations against former film producer Harvey Weinstein helped make the #MeToo, a topic of conversation across the globe. It also provided a platform where many sexual abuse survivors could share their stories. Besides, the movement saw some of the perpetrators get charged, while other survivors were awarded monetary compensation.

Unfortunately, ‘canceling’ has also been used by people with ulterior motives to cause the downfall of many celebrities.

For instance, many users have used old tweets to defame celebrities years later. Further, there are cases where Twitter users took up the jury role without having all the facts about an issue. Besides, other celebrities have been ‘canceled’ even after apologizing or explaining the reason behind their tweets.

Unfortunately, despite the notable positive effects of the ‘cancel culture,’ there are many reasons supporting the fact that the backlash from social media has gone too far, some of which are explained below.

1. Bullying

Twitter and other social media sites often get payouts from clicks and high emotions, and ‘canceling’ fits into this paradigm perfectly. Nasty comments or trolls frequently get the most likes and shares without consideration to the victim.

Unfortunately, in many cases, ’ canceling’ may turn to bullying and invasion of privacy. People being ‘canceled’ also receive criminal threats, leading to increased cases of depression and other mental health issues.

Moreover, the comments make the ‘canceled’ person feel lonely, socially isolated, and like everyone is against them.

Not to mention that the ‘cancelers’ usually shut off all communication channels, robbing the ‘canceled’ person of any chance to explain themselves, apologize, or even learn from their mistakes.

Additionally, celebrities get bullied over things that have nothing to do with controversial tweets. Their families are also dragged into the mess, which can be very stressful.

2. People Are Quick to Judge

The popularity of the “cancel culture” has seen an increase in the number of Twitter users who are on the lookout for mistakes among famous people. Many social media users are always watching and waiting to jump on errors.

Unfortunately, most of these people don’t have the best intentions, and they’re also very quick to judge.

Such behavior of overanalyzing and calling out every little mistake a celebrity makes doesn’t help make society better.

3. Leads to Empty Apologies

When a person is ‘canceled,’ what often follows is a quick apology from the person who has been called out. Most people only apologize after being called out and not due to them acknowledging they have done wrong.

Many famous individuals have also made empty apologies without meaning it or understanding the magnitude of their actions. Unfortunately, this teaches others that it’s okay to apologize without meaning it.

Besides, people spend so much time canceling and waiting for an apology that they forget what the real mistake was in the first place and why it’s harmful, which makes the whole point of ‘canceling’ others meaningless.

In closing, while ‘canceling’ may seem like the most appropriate weapon to boycott famous people who have made mistakes, it’s also a harmful method that doesn’t always lead to a change of behavior.

Calling out people with more focus being on wrongdoing is more effective. Celebrities also need to be given a chance to genuinely apologize and learn from their mistakes. In the words of former American president Barack Obama, “The world is messy; there are ambiguities… people who do really good stuff have flaws.”