By Lacey Okamura
Staff Writer
Social media is notorious for its ability to rapidly launch normal people into influencer-style fame. This fame, however, comes with a price: intense scrutiny from consumers who hold the power to “cancel” you in an instant.
It seems that every other day there is a new apology video on TikTok. Whether it’s old tweets, a controversial opinion, or even a bold fashion choice, the internet is quick to call out behavior that it deems unacceptable. While a lot of these call outs are warranted, like pointing out blatant racism or sexism, they are not always consistent.
“Cancel culture” has become a trend that takes away from its original purpose of accountability. The formula tends to be the same in every case: an influencer does something controversial, the internet explodes, the influencer apologizes, then two weeks later everyone forgets what happened.
Should the internet be so quick to forgive and forget? Take the example of Logan Paul, one half of the infamous Paul brothers on social media. Logan Paul’s timeline has been filled with controversy after controversy.
In 2017, Paul was under fire for posting a YouTube video that contained a dead body of someone who committed suicide in a Japanese forest. More recently, he falsely accused an Olympic boxer of being transgender, which Paul later admitted to being misinformed about.
Paul has faced criticism for a number of other offenses including animal cruelty, homophobia, and false advertising. Yet, he remains one of the most successful and profitable YouTubers and influencers of the decade. According to Forbes, Logan Paul earned $21 million in the year 2023 alone, ranking sixth on their Top Creators list.
If canceling someone is meant to hold them accountable, then why is it that some influencers, like Logan Paul, continue to remain popular? Conversely, why is it that some influencers get bullied, even when doing nothing wrong? Recently, popular TikToker Chris Olsen was forced to make one of his accounts private due to hateful comments, which were taking a severe toll on the creator’s mental health. Olsen is not alone, as a number of Tiktokers have stepped away from the app for periods of time because of hate.
It is clear that cancel culture does not have the effect it is intended to have. People are being called out left and right, yet the offenses continue to be repeated. Others fall victim to the culture and have to deal with unnecessary hate. This trend has gone too far, and not only has it lost its effectiveness, but it creates a sense of hostility on social media apps.
Rather than picking and choosing who is to be scrutinized and who gets a free pass, the internet should instead focus on uplifting creators that are positive role models. That way, social media can return to being a celebration of expression, instead of a platform of criticism.
