No, "we" did not invent a crisis; free speech censorship is real and is affecting every aspect of our lives. The relatively new phenomenom that is 'cancel culture' is now confronting journalism and worryingly brings into question the ability of the media to exist in a society which increasingly disarms the principle of freedom of the press. The ability to communicate through various media including printed and electronic means, especially published material, should be considered a right to be exercised freely.
Cancel culture seems to have originated on social media and the gathering storm of unbridled, unsolicited outrage for nothing more than having the right to hold a differing opinion, has rained down on us ever since. The reality is, your brand and reputation can be destroyed in the matter of a few social media posts. Make no mistake, it is an effective bullying tool used to close down - often popular - conversation that merely questions or opposes a particular narrative. Moreover, it sends out the clear message your opinion is wrong, unwelcome, and once a firm foothold of repugnant outrage has been established, support for your public takedown quickly ensues, in much the same way as vultures attack their weakened prey.
It is school playground tactics, that has far-reaching consequences.
Who should we be holding to account for such appallingly destructive behaviour? Behaviour that can cost jobs, livelihoods, relationships and affect mental health and wellbeing. The 'Cancel Clan' I hear you say, but the true perpetrators of this crime are the facilitators; Big Tech who act as Judge, Jury and Firing Squad and who exercise far too much control over our lives, just because they can, and invariably, because they share the views of the attacking bullies. They quite simply have too much power. Didn't these tech giants once say that it was not their responsibility to be online moral arbiters, and that they were platforms and not acting as publishers?
The United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. No-one could have forseen the challenges this would present in the dawn of the internet age, where public figures like Donald Trump and J.K. Rowling could be cut off for having the 'wrong' viewpoint.
When the US Government has no control over the cancelling of its President on Twitter, is it not time to question the power these tech giants yield? Until there is more competition in the digital sector, Big Tech will continue to act in its biased, divisive and unjust manner. Surely, the threat of losing customers should be a concern for any company? Perhaps the companies are now so big, they no longer care.
Whatever the way forward, stay true to yourself and never allow anyone to cancel your perfectly reasonable beliefs and points of view.
I will always remind you that your opinion is not necessarily fact nor is it my reality, and I absolutely maintain the right to say so without fear of falling victim to the absurd cancel culture that is blighting our lives.
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