"Cancel culture" and public shaming are increasingly common ways to hold individuals, institutions and public figures accountable for their actions and statements. Proponents of these practices argue that they empower everyday people and can effectively pressure those in positions of power to take responsibility. Critics, however, contend that they foster a climate of fear, limit free discourse, and offer no space for individuals to explain or develop as persons.
It is true that public accountability has a role to play when traditional institutions fall short. Social media offers a powerful platform for individuals to publicly call attention to and address instances of discrimination, harassment, corruption or unacceptable behavior that may have otherwise gone unaddressed. This public pressure can, in turn, inspire investigations and demands for substantive change within organizations. From this perspective, cancel culture can function as a mechanism to subvert unjust power structures and to ensure that all members of society are made aware of the repercussions of their conduct, particularly empowering the voices of marginalized individuals and victims.
Yet the negative aspects of public shaming are deeply problematic. In the lightning-fast world of the internet, information, and especially outrage, travels rapidly and often without verification. An individual or organization can face swift public condemnation based on partial or decontextualized information or even from a years-old error in judgment.
In an environment in which engagement is tied to the expression of intense emotion, complex situations become overly simplified: black and white depictions where one party is unambiguously the 'villain' and the other the victim.
Moreover, there is often no space for an offender to clarify their position, issue a sincere apology, or ultimately prove that they are capable of change.
Ultimately, fear of public backlash can make authentic discourse near impossible. Individuals and entities may be afraid to express doubts, to hold unpopular but sincere opinions, to express evolving understandings of issues, lest they too be attacked or branded by the mob. A useful response to wrongdoing ought to include opportunities for reflection and growth rather than mere humiliation. A distinction can and should be made between criticism for harmful actions, on the one hand, and the permanent branding of an individual based on their worst mistake, on the other.
Cancel culture and public shaming may, at best, serve as tools of accountability when employed ethically-meaning when based on accurate information, in a way that reflects the magnitude of the wrong committed, and that provides space for response and dialog. While every member of society must feel a sense of accountability, particularly in a climate where formal institutions are often remiss in their duties, this accountability ought to come with a path towards restoration rather than permanent public excommunication. A just approach balances consequence with constructive discourse, allowing room for an offender's recognition of wrongdoing and opportunity for them to amend their conduct genuinely.
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