The Pros And Cons Of Cancel Culture

In recent years, the term “cancel culture” has become increasingly relevant in discussions within American culture, society, and politics. While some view the phenomenon as a way to positively hold people in power accountable for their actions, as well as means for social justice, others view cancel culture as a form of censorship and punishment. By analyzing credible scholarly sources, viewing public dialogue in relation to cancel culture, as well as viewing it through the lenses of intersectionalities, can an individual come to understand the origins, attitudes, and the differing opinions related to cancel culture. In Sara Atske’s Pew Research Center article, “Americans and ‘Cancel Culture’: Where Some See Calls for Accountability, Others

For example, Palmer notes that “cancel culture can sometimes lead to overreactions and can be used to silence dissenting voices” (Palmer). Similarly, social media activism can sometimes lead to performative activism, where individuals or organizations make empty gestures of support without actually working to address systemic issues. This discussion which Palmer shares is important because it highlights the fact that cancel culture is able to be weaponized by any people, regardless of political affiliation, age, etc, something which Atske’s studies did not find. “Cancel culture and social media activism are complex and nuanced concepts that cannot be reduced to simple labels” (Palmer). Instead, Palmer emphasizes the urge to understand the historical and cultural context in which they arise, as well as the ways in which they can both empower and limit marginalized

She states that “When it started, it was a good thing… But when people say, “I hope you die, somebody should kill your family”, it becomes online bullying”. In response, pro-cancel culture attendee Seth states that, “Cancel culture rationally is overall a net positive, I think. But there are sects of cancel culture, like toxic people that issue death threats… Cancel culture originated out of compassion, the voice for the voiceless”. While both being Black, Joy and Seth have differing opinions on cancel culture because of their differing life experiences. Joy, being a singer who chooses to be vocal about her support of the Republican party, specifically her support towards Trump, is against cancel culture due to the “bullying” she receives from social media users daily. Her views and regards towards cancel culture can be tied with Sara Atske’s observations, as her study states that people who are conservative / consume conservative media tend to view the phenomenon (cancel culture) negatively. In comparison, Seth being a Black man who has been silenced in the past, agrees with the use of cancel culture as a means of holding people accountable for their actions - something which Korri E. Palmer and her article would agree