Generation Z has coined the term ‘cancel culture’ to describe the ostracization of a person or group of people based on a controversial event. Perhaps a friend expressed concerns about political beliefs or a favorite celebrity endorsed a questionable brand. In whatever capacity, you may have come across ‘cancel culture’ (hopefully not by being the one canceled). We can all agree that it has become a hallmark of the 21st century. But, what are the implications of a culture that strongly establishes an in-group and out-group? Does such a culture reflect the ever-changing direction of a society that demands perfection and refuses to accept anything less? How, if at all, does a focus on mental health play into the concept of ‘cancel culture?’

In 1981, American musician Nile Rodgers wrote the song “Your Love Is Canceled,” first establishing the use of ‘canceling’ to describe the exclusion of a person from one’s social circle based on questionable behavior. Black culture holds the origin of the term ‘cancel culture,’ but it has since been monopolized by mainstream white media, most prominently appearing in political spheres and amongst celebrities on social media platforms. According to a

Pew Research Center

study of 10,093 U.S. adults in September 2020, “44% of Americans say they have heard at least a fair amount about the phrase [‘cancel culture’], including 22% who have heard a great deal.”

On one hand, ‘cancel culture’ has finally prompted society to hold problematic people accountable. It has marked a cultural shift where we no longer assume best intentions and move on, but rather utilize a person’s assets, most frequently favor or popularity with an audience, to coerce one into modifying their thoughts or behaviors. In an ideal world, people would self-correct without the threat of losing something, but humans are inherently marked by our inability to say “I’m sorry.” In 2021, Armie Hammer, an actor most well-known for his role in the movie

Call Me By Your Name

, was effectively ‘canceled’ after some of his texts chronicling his fetishization for rape and sadism were leaked. In Hammer’s situation, the public had been admiring him since

Call Me By Your Name

achieved great success, winning 11 major awards — including an Academy Award. Hammer was not gleefully glamorized for his behavior, but rather held responsible as society stopped supporting him altogether. Similarly, in 2020, J.K. Rowling, the author of the beloved

Harry Potter

series, was ‘canceled’ for her transphobic Tweets. Just the tip of the iceberg, in June 2020, Rowling tweeted mockingly about nomenclature meant to help include transgender individuals; as a result of her willfully malicious speech, considerable swaths of society ‘canceled’ her. Rowling notably did not appear at the

Harry Potter

reunion celebrating its 20th anniversary, reinforcing suspicions that she was not invited.

This, however, is not the whole story. Although ‘cancel culture’ holds people accountable, it does so in a way that prevents people from learning from their mistakes, proving to be more detrimental in the long term. In an age consumed by technology, society frequently decides to ‘cancel’ someone based solely on the action without considering their true intentions. Alternate paths are available.

In June 2022, Lizzo released her song “Grrrls,” which included her use of ‘spaz,’ a derogatory term targeted at people with cerebral palsy. Within seconds, fans flooded Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms expressing their anger directed at Lizzo. The fans’ anger was certifiably justified, but the almost immediate desire to cancel Lizzo, a contemporary cornerstone for celebrating body positivity and diversity, was not. Following the incident, on June 13, Lizzo released a statement on Instagram, expressing her apologies and announcing a new version of “Grrrls” with a lyric change. Lizzo’s post can still be seen on her Instagram account, marking how she authentically embraced her mistakes and learned from them. Rather than calling Lizzo out, fans should have called her in, using compassion to educate her on why something she said or did was harmful. ‘Calling in’ prompts accountability through education, allowing one the space to grow from their errors. After all, “humans make mistakes” is a cliché for a reason, but so is “learn from your mistakes.” There is also evidence that being ‘canceled’ can also lead to anxiety, depression, suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder. If the intention of ‘cancel culture’ is for people to take responsibility for their actions, is it beneficial that the same people are driven to extremes, like developing mental health issues?

It is time to cancel ‘cancel culture’ — not because people should not be held accountable for their hurtful actions, but because there is a more humane way of dealing with them: ‘calling them in.’