Cancel Culture vs. Accountability: Are we really doing it right?

You have seen it everywhere—Twitter mobs with their revenge trending hashtags, Instagram outrage on comments section saying cancel her or cancel him, because in 2010 this person has commented something bad so cancel him now in 2024, or TikTok trends where people are either being cancelled or “held accountable” for something they said or did. But here is the million-dollar question: Are we getting it right, or is this a toxic trend that we need to rethink & redo?

The Rise of Cancel Culture

Let us talk about cancel culture for a minute, especially for the unversed. It started with good intentions, right? Holding people accountable for harmful behaviour, especially when it comes to issues like racism, sexism, or harmful stereotypes. But somewhere along the way, it took a turn. Now, it is not just about accountability but about shutting people down. Boom. You are done. No questions asked.

Take, for instance, the cancellation during the Met Gala of this year 2024, influencer Haley “Baylee” Kalil made a TikTok showing off her costume per the theme & said “Let them eat cake” I noticed that the internet hounds Hailey Beiber & many others particularly female celebrities such as Taylor Swift who boast of a massive fan following but its followed by a massive number of haters who hate her for dating someone, I mean this same scrutinizing lens that is put on women celebrities are not put on male celebrities like Leonardo di Caprio & many more celebrities. As per a report on an article online, women celebrities get 2. 25 % more sexist tweets than male celebrities.

Yes, cancelling should be done for the right & correct reasons & only to the ones who have no chance at redemptions, something like Diddy do it?

The Problem with No Redemption

Here is the thing: accountability is necessary. But should it always come with a permanent stamp of disapproval? Not really. Think about it—when did we become a society that celebrates & enjoys tearing others down instead of trying to build them up? When did we stop believing in growth, change, forgiveness and in redemption where redemption & change is possible?

I mean, are we all saints?

The Accountability Disconnect

Now, do not get me wrong—accountability is KEY.

Look at how quickly people jumped on Elizabeth Olsen, Chloe Bailey, Pete Davidson, Selena Gomez, and Hailey Bieber, for something that did not quite warrant the massive backlash they received.

what is the real goal? Should the goal be about punishment, or should we be encouraging people to do better? & be better?

The Line Between Cancel and Accountability

If we are cancelling people for minor mistakes or misunderstandings, aren’t we just creating a society of fear and paranoia? Isn’t accountability supposed to be about growth, not punishment?

Recent Examples—Are We Getting It Right?

Let us bring it home with some examples, shall we? Kathy Griffin, Sharon Osbourne, Ellen DeGeneres, Ellie Kemper, Jimmy Fallon, and Chrissy Teigen all have faced the wrath of social media

Remember Janet Jackson had a wardrobe malfunction during the Superbowl? Both Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake apologies, the public called it a “nipplegate” ! CBS, MTV and the NFL all apologised the very next day, But it was a far bigger nightmare for her than for Timberlake, something he acknowledged during a 2006 interview with MTV, when he said he probably received 10 per cent of the blame that critics hurled at them, citing gender and race as factors for the disparity. We live in a world where cancel culture can feel like it is thriving off outrage. But can we learn from mistakes if we are not given space to grow?

The Final Word: It is All About Balance

Here is the bottom line, folks—balance is everything. Let us start focusing on growth, not just punishment.

So, what do you think? Are we really holding people accountable, or are we just cancelling everyone who messes up?

Let me know your thoughts—slide into my DMs on instagram or leave a comment, because trust me, we are only getting started on this conversation.

The Hookup Culture Trap: Why It is Time to Swipe Left for Good

What Even Is Hookup Culture? For the unversed Hookup culture is that pervasive idea that casual sex is the norm—no strings attached, no feelings, just instant gratification. Wham bam thank you maam, score brooooo, thank you next ,left her on read broooo after last night hahahha score…On the surface, it looks liberating and wow so freeing right ? SO COOL , SO HIP & HAPPENING , You do you, right? But dig deeper, like I said earlier, don’t be surface level, be deeper, think deeper , about the root , the cause & its eventual negative effect on the long term and you’ll see it’s more about escapism than empowerment. It encourages shallow connections over meaningful bonds, treating intimacy like a commodity instead of something, well, intimate, between two people who make it special & make it mean something, after you have sex, it should make you feel nice & it should not make you feel empty from inside just like when you take a chemical drug.

And now Why Is hooking up So Popular? The rise of dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, ahh grinder and the infinite swipe has made hookup culture almost unavoidable. Add in pop culture & the celebrities hyping it up as cool and modern, and voila, there you go—you’ve got a generation conditioned to chase instant gratification at the cost of genuine honest connection. Hooking up is easy, it is convenient, and, let’s face it, yes it is for sure less scary than putting your heart on the line. So what people are doing now is protecting their heart from being broken.

But here is the catch: convenience is not always good for you. Sometimes, convenience might be good but not always, for example Fast food is convenient, too, but you would not want to live on it, right? You want home cooked meals for your own physical health for the long term.

The Emotional Fallout Let us get real: hookup culture is a breeding ground for emotional damage. We are talking feelings of emptiness, lack of self-worth, and even depression. Studies show that casual sex often leads to regret and a sense of being used, especially among young people who buy into the myth that sex without commitment is equal to freedom.

But freedom from what, exactly? Nobody has caged you so What do you want to be free from? Free from genuine intimacy? Free from vulnerability? Free from love? Don’t you want love? The truth is, we are not escaping anything. We are just numbing ourselves to what it means to be truly connected to another person.

Now How Hook up culture is Hurting Society at large Now, let us zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Hookup culture is not just messing up people—it is destabilizing the very fabric of relationships…. in society.

Why This Narrative Needs to Change Here is the thing: intimacy is not just about physicality. It is about trust, understanding, and vulnerability, you know you are opening not only your body but also your soul to that person. Hookup culture robs us of that depth, leaving us with a hollow version of connection.

We need to start valuing emotional intimacy as much as physical intimacy. That means redefining what is “cool” in modern dating.

Spoiler: It is not ghosting someone after a one-night stand. It is building something real and lasting.

The Role of Media and Influencers Media and influencers play a massive role in perpetuating hookup culture. Think about it: how often do you see rom-coms where the hookup turns into a fairytale romance? Reality check, it does not ever, hook up is hook up, wham bam thank you maam

We need a new narrative—one that celebrates commitment, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence. And yes, influencers, I’m looking at you. Let’s start a trend where being in a healthy, committed relationship is the new IT THING.

How Do We Cancel Hookup Culture? Cancelling hookup culture doesn’t mean cancelling casual dating entirely—it means shifting the focus back to respect, honesty, and intention.

Final Thoughts Hookup culture promises freedom, but what it delivers is emptiness. It’s time to move past this shallow trend and build a society that values real, meaningful connections.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to swipe left on hookup culture? Let me know your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you. And remember, the change starts with us.

Outro Thanks for tuning in to The Thought Stirrer. If this stirred something in you, don’t forget to share it with your friends & family and let’s get the conversation rolling. Until next time, stay thoughtful and stay connected, stay moisturised, stay hydrated & stay blessed. Love you all , bye