Let’s Talk about Cancel Culture

Cancel culture refers to the widespread practice of withdrawing support or canceling public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.

“Cancel culture” came into the collective consciousness around 2017, after the idea of “canceling” celebrities for problematic actions or statements became popular.

The term has since still been especially relevant in 2020, as companies and celebrities are being called out for anything remotely controversial or problematic.

Over the last few years, the social-media trend has gained momentum under the trendy new name — placing celebrities, companies, and media alike under a microscope of political correctness.

“Twitter Do Your Thing”

These are only a few of the popular twitter hashtags and saying when planning to cancel a particular person or company on social media.

“Twitter Do Your Thing” is a popular request amongst Twitter’s users to actively encourage a person or company to be put under the microscope. The platform’s users would begin old secrets, past dirt, and unveiling any complicated past histories. This particular term has been used immensely in the resurgence of cancel culture.

#IsOverParty

Cancel Culture has grown immensely because the collective canceling of someone, even when it’s only on social media, creates a sense of togetherness and solidarity. When users come together to call out a person or company’s behavior, users become a force that doesn’t tolerate a certain kind of behavior.

As we shift into a new decade, there is an evident divide that seems to be growing more visible.

This divide is not only between ideologies but also between tactical approaches in navigating differences and wrongdoings. The once traditional approach, apology, atonement, and forgiveness is no longer sustainable in the digital age. Cancel Culture was created to push for meaningful change, but it’s still essential to search for other ways to engage with wrongdoings and problematic situations.

Finding ways to engage despite the temptations of cancellation continues to be a work in progress, as differing political and social issues come to the surface.