Information Cascades in Cancel Culture
Cancel culture has become a key part of today’s social scene, but can have many perceived reasons and definitions. While some view it as holding other accountable, it can also been seen as a form of censorship or punishment. It colloquially refers to calling people out publicly for things they have said or done usually on social media to shame them for the world to see. When the “cancellation” of someone generates enough support, it can have many effects on the one cancelled, such as harm to their reputation, finances, or even their bodies. Nowadays, it is very common to see celebrities getting cancelled, usually for the purpose to get the public to stop supporting them, but it can be seen in smaller scenarios where someone within a smaller, more local community is cancelled for a variety of reasons, more typically their actions.
Information cascades are when people make decisions on the basis of the decisions of others before them. In respect to cancel culture, it is only “successful” in cancelling someone when enough support is gathered. If someone sees someone being cancelled for a reason they agree and resonate with, they are like to want to cancel and publicly shame that person too. In a 2020 study, it was found that about 44% of Americans have heard of cancel culture while 64% of adults under 30 have seen a lot about cancel culture. The survey in the article further breaks down cancel culture by various slicers including race, gender, and political view. This opens thoughts about information cascades and if we are more likely to join in on decisions made by those we are predisposed to believing due to shared experiences (from race and gender) or beliefs (politics).
Article: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/