Within the past five years, the “cancel culture” has been on the rise. It's a growing phenomenon that's left almost no one safe, from comedians and actors, to films and brands.

The act of canceling, also referred to as cancel culture describes a form of boycott in which an individual who has shared a questionable or controversial opinion is "canceled"; they are ostracized and rejected by former friends, followers and supporters alike.

Some people rail against this "cancel culture" while others say it is necessary. But is it a healthy form of communication?

The irony of cancel culture is that while it’s enticing to engage in, it lacks nuance, patience, understanding and communication. It’s rooted in humiliating the offending party and in a privileged view that, ‘I know better than you.’

President Obama possibly said it best when he said, “If all you’re doing is casting stones, you’re probably not going to get that far.”

Of course, there are arguably some people who deserve to be cancelled, but for the people who get cancelled for tweeting a contentious joke, or a view which strays from the accepted norm, maybe it’s time we rethink our actions.

Even though it could be seen as progressive, it can quickly be the opposite; a form of censorship, which is a tool mastered by some of the most oppressive political regimes in history. At both the individual and the collective level, it may result in us becoming afraid of exploring our boundaries and debate different opinions in case we accidentally offend someone. To cancel someone immediately, we could be essentially denying them the opportunity to learn and grow.

So which is it?
Is cancel culture an important tool of social justice or a new form of merciless mob intimidation?

Let us know in the comment section below!
Influence your world!
Toluna Team