A social psychological examination of the "cancel culture" on Anglo-American social platforms
Lan Mao
Xi'an Fanyi University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/pmcs.v8i2.14547
Keywords: cancel culture; social media platforms; social psychology; public opinion polarization; moral emotions
Abstract
Cancel culture is now a familiar feature of online life in Anglo-American digital spaces. Sometimes it begins with a recent public comment; sometimes it comes from an old post, a screenshot, or a decision made by a public figure, company, or institution. After being shared and discussed repeatedly, the issue may no longer remain a single act of criticism, but turn into wider pressure from online users. This paper reads cancel culture through social psychology. Since it does not use questionnaire data or statistical testing, the discussion relies mainly on existing academic views and public examples. The main concern is how a personal reaction becomes collective pressure. Social identity, conformity, moral emotions, and group polarization are used to explain this change. Platform design is also part of the discussion. Recommendation systems and echo chambers may keep similar opinions in front of users, so anger and judgment can appear repeatedly. In some cases, cancel culture helps expose misconduct and forces powerful people or organizations to respond. In other cases, it moves too fast and damages a person's reputation before enough context is considered. This is why platform governance, public opinion literacy, and clearer rules for online discussion are still needed.
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