In this article, I explore the modern phenomenon of “cancel culture,” including its potential positive and negative impacts on society. Please note: I am not criticizing how survivors of abuse share their stories; I am merely examining the possible effects of cancel culture on society. 

In the past week, there have been claims of alleged sexual assault against Justin Bieber, actor Ansel Elgort, and several members of the television show Riverdale. I am not here to speak on the validity of any claims, as there is currently no legal information to verify claims from either side. Instead, I open a discussion about cancel culture and social media. The various accusations were announced on Twitter by both personal and anonymous accounts years after the alleged sexual assaults occurred. As of the moment, no legal charges have been pressed. However, the responses on social media are intense and polarizing. Some immediately jump to the defense of the famous men in question, as fans believe in their innocence without knowing what happened, causing backlash for the accusers. At the same time, others are harassing not only the alleged assaulters but people close to them as they demand justice for the alleged victims. In the wake of the “Me, Too” movement, careers can flicker out overnight with substantial allegations. But does the rapid-fire reaction to cancel people ultimately provide more benefits or harm?

There are situations in which cancel culture can provide the justice that a traditional court of law is unable to. When it comes to sexual assault, the system fails victims enormously. Just check out the Epstein case mishandling to grasp the extent of how powerful men can cover up their sexual crimes. It is devastating to come forward about an assault and press charges. In addition to the likely life-long trauma of the ordeal, having to experience a defense team attempt to obliterate your case and image can be horrifying, especially if you lack the means for personal legal representation. It’s therefore next to inconceivable for most to imagine the difficulty and scrutiny one would face for pressing charges against someone powerful, wealthy, and famous. Furthermore, it can be extremely challenging to prove that a non-consensual sexual encounter occurred, especially if one revoked consent partway through. It is nearly impossible to document that a rape occurred years after the incident, putting victims in a position of silence and agony.

Here is where social media and cancel culture can come into play and have a positive affect. Victims of sexual assault can reclaim their voices and find allies and supporters, including people who share in their pain and might have even been assaulted by the same people. Using social media platforms to reveal abuse can bring people together and give them the strength to face their abuser, or at least see the name of their abuser become tarnished. Where the legal system fails victims, a worldwide network of online support may be able to serve an alternative form of justice by “canceling” the abusers in question. But this begs the question: is it justice in cases when there is no proof of abuse? Furthermore, in she-said-he-said situations, do bystanders have any right to weigh-in on what occurred? Should uninvolved people have the power to cancel people and terminate their careers?

The following case is of interest to this discussion, though it is the exception rather than the rule. However, many will bring it up as an argument that canceling people is toxic. People were quick to support Amber Heard when she accused her ex-husband, Johnny Depp, of abuse. This lead to his cancelation, as well as a slew of legal consequences for Depp. In addition to paying Heard 7 million dollars, Depp was dropped from prominent projects such as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which he headlined for over a decade, and a Fantastic Beasts sequel. In addition to having his carer ruined, Depp faced character slander. And then recently it emerged that Heard abused Depp and was merely piggybacking off the momentum of the Me Too movement to profit from a false victim narrative. Depp is likely the most recognized case of cancel culture’s failure, as unverified allegations portrayed a victim as an abuser. Cancel culture can be dangerous in such cases because false assault allegations are a stain you can never scrub away. Even if you have your name cleared or are never formally charged, the belief that you are a predator will forever tarnish your image.

In this light, cancel culture can be extremely dangerous for society, as it leads to the downfall of people due to rumor alone. Part of the issue lies in the severity of cancel culture. In cases such as Bill Cosby or any other verified sexual predator or rapist, cancel culture is warranted, especially when the legal system fails victims. But many cases are not so clear. Mass allegations certainly strengthen claims, especially since false reports of sexual assault are very uncommon. But what about when it comes to less severe crimes? Do people deserve to be canceled over problematic Tweets made years ago? With people living their lives online, the internet is a stomping ground for ignorance and offense. Does that mean that everyone who has ever said anything offensive should be canceled? Should people have the chance to show that they’ve grown or the opportunity to educate themselves and be better?

The deciding of appropriate punishment for offensive behavior is hard to assess, especially since cancel culture is often uneven. For example, several networks, including MTV, have recently fired tv personalities over racist comments and Tweets. However, other people retain their positions despite years of abuse and harm. Due to recent social progression, such lukewarm responses to combatting racism seem like half-assed attempt to pander to cancel culture. Networks get to pick and choose who to protect while offering sacrificial scapegoats to bear the full weight of the offense. It appears as though social media warriors are taking it upon themselves to serve justice and bring other cases of racism and abuse to light by exposing people who both are and are not famous and calling for them to have privileges revoked. From demanding people to be fired to dropped from endorsements to kicked out of school, cancel culture is working hard to dig up offensive people and expose them. Is this a revolutionary form of justice or a harsh character assassination?

Overall, cancel culture has risen in popularity partially due to the failure of the legal system to meet the needs of survivors. However, there are more corrupt factors at play beneath the surface of cancel culture. Troubling factors include an inability to verify facts, a savage lack of forgiveness, and outrage for the sake of it. Predators should be exposed. They should lose everything in their lives, just like they took everything from their victims. But people need to pause for a moment before jumping on the cancel bandwagon and wait for facts to gather. In rare cases, innocent reputations become ruined by false allegations. Additionally, not everyone deserves to be canceled. Cases of ignorance such as offensive past Tweets should not necessarily be enough to cancel someone. To improve society, people need to be educated and given the chance to change. And something we also need to do is fix the criminal justice system so that victims don’t have to seek justice online.

Recommended Reading: Why Do We Doubt Victims?