It’s time to cancel the cancel culture

I grew up believing that second chances were a given. That making a mistake — sometimes even a big one — didn’t mark the end of your story, but rather a turning point.

Today, that belief feels outdated. We live in an era dominated by cancel culture, where one misstep, one poorly phrased comment, one lapse in judgment, can end careers, destroy reputations, and silence voices — sometimes forever.

Cancel culture began with good intentions. It was a way for people who felt unheard to finally hold others accountable. 

Social media gave a platform to the marginalized. But somewhere along the way, accountability morphed into destruction. Today, cancel culture often resembles a public stoning: swift, brutal, and merciless. 

There’s rarely room for apologies, explanations, or growth. Instead of promoting justice, it too often breeds fear.

The danger isn’t just to public figures, either. Everyday people — teachers, employees, even teenagers — can find themselves at the center of a viral outrage cycle, suffering consequences that far outweigh the offense. I’ve seen friends lose jobs over a poorly worded tweet. I’ve watched communities turn their backs on people they once celebrated, simply because it was easier to join the outrage than to understand the full story.

The worst part is the chilling effect cancel culture has on dialogue. People become afraid to speak. Afraid to ask questions. Afraid to express opinions that don’t perfectly align with the loudest voices online. When fear replaces conversation, we don’t progress — we stagnate. Real change doesn’t happen when we silence others; it happens when we engage with them, when we challenge ideas thoughtfully, not violently.

No one is perfect. We are all works in progress, constantly learning, unlearning, and growing. If we don’t allow others the grace to change, we shouldn’t expect it for ourselves. Cancel culture traps people in their worst moments, refusing to acknowledge the possibility of redemption.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t call out harmful behavior. Accountability is important. But there’s a critical difference between holding someone responsible and erasing them altogether. Justice must include the possibility of rehabilitation, not just punishment.

At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves: what kind of society do we want to be? One that tears people down permanently, or one that believes in growth and forgiveness? 

I hope we choose the latter. If not for the sake of others, then for ourselves. Because one day, we might be the ones asking for a second chance.