LO Task 2 - Discursive Essay on Cancel Culture
The public humiliation and shunning of individuals who do not conform to societal norms has been a
recurring practice throughout history. In recent years it has intensified due to online platforms, and
transformed into the weapon known as “cancel culture”. The idea of cancel culture has proven to be
toxic, as it perpetuates a lack of humanity in society as well as inhibits self expression hence
threatening free speech and democracy.
Cancel culture encourages division between members of society, and is dismissive to the chance of
growth and change for the people being cancelled. Many celebrities have had their careers threatened
over something that they said as a teenager, even though they have proven themselves to be a better
person presently. Jimmy Fallon was cancelled because he did blackface in 2000, even though he
strives to now urge white people to speak out against racism. (Simao, 2020)The utter refusal of a
community to allow another person to make mistakes while learning in their youth, shows total
hypocrisy, and condemns the idea that people can change through educating themselves and
developing new perspectives. This is the opposite of activism, which is the façade that cancel culture
often hides behind, as it does not believe change is possible and always thinks the worst of others
proving to be an apathetic solution to issues. In the attempt to excommunicate an offender from online
society, the intolerance of the community is seen. In not accepting another’s differences there can be
no unification and growth as a society, which shows the destructive nature of this online humiliation.
This is especially harmful on online platforms where increasing numbers of impressionable younger
children are witnessing this hatred of others, which will influence them to believe they are always
right and not to respect others who have different opinions. More than 50% of children have social
media by age 12, which means these unhealthy ideals will be perpetuated on to the next generation
and create a toxic space with little humanity and empathy. (Brigham, 2018) Therefore cancel culture
divides society, allows no space for the change and maturation of an individual, and promotes a lack
of respect for others.
Furthermore, cancel culture highlights the abuse of power in society and how it leads to inhibition of
self expression. The concept that one person has the moral high ground over another, and is therefore
entitled to dismiss the other’s opinion, is extremely to destructive to the idea of democracy. In many
instances people are speaking on behalf of cultures that they do not belong to, which is more
problematic. The artist Doja Cat was being cancelled for using racial slurs in her music until she
reminded the internet that she was actually a black woman, and therefore entitled to reclaim these
slurs. (Simao, 2020) Cancel culture silences the voices of the people being cancelled, and by not
allowing them to express their opinions it has taken away their right of free speech. No meaningful
discussion can be had from destroying a person’s reputation because they have a different opinion, but
The public humiliation and shunning of individuals who do not conform to societal norms has been a
recurring practice throughout history. In recent years it has intensified due to online platforms, and
transformed into the weapon known as “cancel culture”. The idea of cancel culture has proven to be
toxic, as it perpetuates a lack of humanity in society as well as inhibits self expression hence
threatening free speech and democracy.
Cancel culture encourages division between members of society, and is dismissive to the chance of
growth and change for the people being cancelled. Many celebrities have had their careers threatened
over something that they said as a teenager, even though they have proven themselves to be a better
person presently. Jimmy Fallon was cancelled because he did blackface in 2000, even though he
strives to now urge white people to speak out against racism. (Simao, 2020)The utter refusal of a
community to allow another person to make mistakes while learning in their youth, shows total
hypocrisy, and condemns the idea that people can change through educating themselves and
developing new perspectives. This is the opposite of activism, which is the façade that cancel culture
often hides behind, as it does not believe change is possible and always thinks the worst of others
proving to be an apathetic solution to issues. In the attempt to excommunicate an offender from online
society, the intolerance of the community is seen. In not accepting another’s differences there can be
no unification and growth as a society, which shows the destructive nature of this online humiliation.
This is especially harmful on online platforms where increasing numbers of impressionable younger
children are witnessing this hatred of others, which will influence them to believe they are always
right and not to respect others who have different opinions. More than 50% of children have social
media by age 12, which means these unhealthy ideals will be perpetuated on to the next generation
and create a toxic space with little humanity and empathy. (Brigham, 2018) Therefore cancel culture
divides society, allows no space for the change and maturation of an individual, and promotes a lack
of respect for others.
Furthermore, cancel culture highlights the abuse of power in society and how it leads to inhibition of
self expression. The concept that one person has the moral high ground over another, and is therefore
entitled to dismiss the other’s opinion, is extremely to destructive to the idea of democracy. In many
instances people are speaking on behalf of cultures that they do not belong to, which is more
problematic. The artist Doja Cat was being cancelled for using racial slurs in her music until she
reminded the internet that she was actually a black woman, and therefore entitled to reclaim these
slurs. (Simao, 2020) Cancel culture silences the voices of the people being cancelled, and by not
allowing them to express their opinions it has taken away their right of free speech. No meaningful
discussion can be had from destroying a person’s reputation because they have a different opinion, but
