By Fatima Ajmal
The further we fall down the line of generations, the harder it becomes to escape the reality of cancel culture. Let’s be frank: we see it happen everywhere.
Cancel culture, for those unaware, is defined by the action of publicly shaming and/or boycotting individuals or organisations that are believed to have behaved in a socially unacceptable manner. In the context of Generation Z, this may involve anything from holding mildly controversial beliefs to conducting significantly harmful behaviour.
This form of culture is extremely prevalent within protesters, with young people as the main demographic—as witnessed using features on social media. As a common example, numerous fast fashion companies have been called out (which still persists to date) due to factors such as their damage to the environment, wasteful use of textiles and in some instances, the exploitation of labour.
In its early stages, cancel culture was used as a tool to seek justice, especially on behalf of marginalised people. Many important issues, such as a lack of customer transparency and authenticity, continue to be overlooked in the world of today.
While the practice of cancel culture may be beneficial in instances of unethical practices, it can also become hazardous to those involved. Influencers and organisations are more at risk of becoming ostracised, and in many cases, mental health concerns become severely impacted as a result.
Unfortunately, social media algorithms aren’t typically based on quality content — but rather, the ability to stand out. Thus, the reality is that many influencers tangled up in controversies actually gain much more attention than anticipated.
As thought-provoking as debates can be, it’s crucial not to become too attached, particularly when arguing against the billions of polarising comments on the internet. After all, we have a tendency to comment on certain things online, that we perhaps wouldn’t say to one another in a face-to-face situation.
Now, the cards are yours: Are we, as humans, exceeding the limit? And more importantly, how much further may we have to experience its consequences?
