After social media was introduced in 1997, society started incorporating it into everyday life more and more each year. Social media became more industrialized, faster, and bigger, taking over the generations that are alive today. Along with that, cancel culture has been born and is quite prominent. Cancel culture is usually where a politician or celebrity ends up losing their career or high reputation due to rumors, mention of past actions made by them, or something they said on live TV or social media. 

Recently, cancel culture has become a standard way of exposing well-known celebrities and politicians. In 2020, a case of cancel culture took place in Midlothian, and it became very controversial. This culture spreads fast and easily, with the help of social media platforms. Cancel culture is most commonly performed by Generation Z and partially the millennial generation. It’s affecting many people in different ways. 

“Cancel culture is people calling other people out and making them lose their career or whatever they do,” Jason Palmer Jr (10) said. “Even if it’s something small.”

Due to this culture, many people have been losing jobs and ending their careers because of tweets, fake news, and much more. But social media is the main resource. 

“Cancel culture is not the way to go about it,” Payton Jeter (9) said. “Cancel culture could easily be used as a weapon, therefore, we shouldn’t use it. Getting someone fired for something they did in the past, or because you don’t like them, is wrong.”

Animated characters are being canceled as well. ‘Speedy Gonzales’ will no longer be promoted or shown due to few finding his character composition an offensive racist stereotype of Mexican culture, while many Mexican Americans find Speedy to be funny and entertaining. Things created in the past that were once normal are now offensive to society. 

“I’m not sure if you’re referring to a specific event here, but I just think cancel culture is dumb,” Emily Shipman (12) said. “People should learn from their mistakes. We all make them.”

Cancel culture is very common now and is set to continue to be. After most recent events, many products and companies will be changing logos and names due to the newest threat of cancel culture. 

“I remember Aunt Jemima being canceled, and that was sad,” Jon Kramer (10) said. “This culture can’t be healthy for us. It’s hurting people.”