I think both cyber vigilantism and cyber shaming go hand in hand, especially with today’s cyber culture. With cyber vigilantism, it is important for people to be held accountable for their actions. People make mistakes all the time, and it is vital to call out those mistakes with the hopes that the person who made said mistake acknowledges it and grows from it. With cyber shaming, I think it is important to know whether calling someone out for their online misdeeds is just simply calling them out rather than bullying them online.
With that said, I think this is the basis of what today’s “Cancel Culture” is about. Celebrities or, simply put, people who have big platforms should be held accountable if they say or do anything online that is offensive, harmful, and outright unethical. A good example of this is the situation with the author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling. Rowling has made tweets and posts on many platforms on their views on the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community, particularly people who identify as trans. This made the many fans of the series not consume any more of Rowling’s work because the author’s perspective on the matter is harmful and offensive. Many fans of the series also mentioned the seemingly racist and stereotypical character names in her books, particularly the names of two characters: Kinglsey Shacklebolt (a Black male) and Cho Chang (an Asian female character). It is very self-explanatory why these names are harmful and offensive. There are more, but this post would be extremely long if I talk about them all.
I agree with the fans on their views regarding Rowling’s work. It is offensive and outright lazy in terms of writing literature. Some fans say that readers should just separate with work from the author, but that is easier said than done. As a person who is Asian and a member of the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community, I really find it difficult to buy the book series as I do not want to support Rowling in any way. There are numerous times that she was called out and was considered as “cancelled” by people, but she still has a big platform due to the Harry Potter series’ success.
Earlier, I mentioned that with cyber shaming, it is important to be aware if we are just simply calling people out or outright bullying them. With Rowling’s case, I feel like the best way to go on about this is to go on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X, and more to speak up about these issues and to bring awareness that these things are happening. Situations just become cyber shaming or bullying if they personally message or contact the person being “cancelled” and giving them, for example, death threats, which has happened numerous times to numerous actors and authors.
You’ve made some excellent points about the nuances of cyber vigilantism and cyber shaming, especially within the context of today’s cancel culture. Holding individuals accountable for their actions online is indeed important, but it’s crucial to differentiate between constructive criticism and outright bullying.
Your example of J.K. Rowling highlights a significant case where public figures are held accountable for their harmful statements. It’s understandable why many fans feel conflicted about supporting her work given her controversial view. The ability to separate an author from their work is a complex and personal decision, and your perspective as someone who is both Asian and a member of the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community provides valuable insight into why it can be so challenging.
Bringing awareness to these issues through social media platforms is a constructive way to call out harmful behaviour without crossing the line into bullying. Encouraging discussions and educating others about why certain statements or actions are offensive can lead to a more informed and empathetic online community. However, as you rightly pointed out, resorting to personal attacks or threats crosses a dangerous line and can do more harm than good.
One Comment
Hi Allard,
You’ve made some excellent points about the nuances of cyber vigilantism and cyber shaming, especially within the context of today’s cancel culture. Holding individuals accountable for their actions online is indeed important, but it’s crucial to differentiate between constructive criticism and outright bullying.
Your example of J.K. Rowling highlights a significant case where public figures are held accountable for their harmful statements. It’s understandable why many fans feel conflicted about supporting her work given her controversial view. The ability to separate an author from their work is a complex and personal decision, and your perspective as someone who is both Asian and a member of the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community provides valuable insight into why it can be so challenging.
Bringing awareness to these issues through social media platforms is a constructive way to call out harmful behaviour without crossing the line into bullying. Encouraging discussions and educating others about why certain statements or actions are offensive can lead to a more informed and empathetic online community. However, as you rightly pointed out, resorting to personal attacks or threats crosses a dangerous line and can do more harm than good.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!