Sush you're cancelled?: A quantitative study

With regard to acceptability a deep divide exists between opposers and proponents of cancel culture. Zooming into the argument of opposers, who argue that cancel culture curtails free speech, the present experiment investigates if cancel culture affects an individual’s encouragement of others to actively participate in discussion and their sense of safety in expressing unpopular opinions. In a survey experiment, participants were randomly assigned in either one of two vignettes which manipulated the presence of cancel culture discourse. Data was collected over a 2 week period (N = 90). Results showed that exposure to cancel culture discourse does not cause individuals to discourage participation in public discussions. Cancel culture, however, does decrease an individual’s sense of safety in expressing unpopular opinions. These findings highlight the need to investigate the impact of cancel culture on individuals' sense of safety to express unpopular opinions further in order to...Show moreWith regard to acceptability a deep divide exists between opposers and proponents of cancel culture. Zooming into the argument of opposers, who argue that cancel culture curtails free speech, the present experiment investigates if cancel culture affects an individual’s encouragement of others to actively participate in discussion and their sense of safety in expressing unpopular opinions. In a survey experiment, participants were randomly assigned in either one of two vignettes which manipulated the presence of cancel culture discourse. Data was collected over a 2 week period (N = 90). Results showed that exposure to cancel culture discourse does not cause individuals to discourage participation in public discussions. Cancel culture, however, does decrease an individual’s sense of safety in expressing unpopular opinions. These findings highlight the need to investigate the impact of cancel culture on individuals' sense of safety to express unpopular opinions further in order to foster both online and offline environments that encourages open dialogue and the exploration of diverse perspectives.Show less

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Sush you're cancelled? A quantitative study