Unraveling the Standpoints on Cancel Culture

Cancel culture, originating in the digital realm and social media, presents challenges for individuals, particularly internet users and celebrities. Research has delved into this phenomenon, defining it and highlighting specific cases of individuals facing cancellation. There has been less focus on understanding the perspectives and personal experiences of those engaging in canceling others. In a qualitative phenomenological study, we examine cancel culture through the eyes of the participants involved. We uncover practices and motivations for participating in cancel culture through in-depth interviews with five participants. The findings reveal that they utilize social media tools for categorization and withdraw support, canceling individuals based on conflicting political views, inappropriate behavior, and the misuse of influence. We reveal the viewpoints of social media users on canceling personalities, touching on themes like seeking accountability, impacting careers, and the ambiguity of intentions. These findings offer avenues for further research to enhance comprehension of cancel culture and its impact on freedom of speech in today's digital age.