Social Media and Information Literacy

Scholarship as Conversation. In academia, ideas are formed, based on, and compared to one another in order to further research. Differing perspectives are incorporated as part of an ongoing conversation about the issue, or topic, versus seeking out a definitive answer. However, in digital culture, users often align their opinions with those that they already agree with, or those they've previously given authority to. The exclusion of opposing perspectives can lead to filter bubbles, echo chambers (more about that in Algorithms and Strategic Searching), and the proliferation of public shaming, "Cancel Culture". "Cancel Culture" is defined as "the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive" (dictionary.com, 2021). When enacted appropriately, public shaming can lead to the calling out, and removal, of certain authority figures who have abused their power (ex. Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, etc.) However, aggressive public shaming can lead to narratives where other perspectives, and evidence, are not taken into consideration. Echo chambers play a heavy role in "Cancel Culture" because they amplify one side of the situation while criticizing others that speak out. It's important, especially with the idea of "Cancel Culture," to inform your own opinion based on facts and evidence, and not on the opinions of other users. 

Explore the resources down below to learn more about 'Cancel Culture,' public shaming, and how it impacts users' interactions online.

Doxxing: According to the Department of Homeland Security, doxxing is the act of, "...gathering an individual's Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and disclosing or posting it publicly, usually for malicious purposes such as public humiliation, stalking, identify theft, or targeting an individual for harassment." (DHS.gov, 2017). Users targeted by cancel culture are often targeted and doxxed by overzealous users who believe them to have done something wrong. Doxxing can be both harmful to both parties in this scenario, as severe forms of doxxing are illegal in many states and can lead to jail time. 

Herd Mentality: Herd mentality is the tendency to follow, or be easily influenced, by majority rule. When users go about seeking information, oftentimes, they will adopt the first popular opinion that fits their confirmation bias. While seeking out other's opinions to inform your own can be beneficial, personal research should never stop there. Herd mentality can be dangerous and lead to the spread of misinformation and risky decision-making. In some cases, it can even turn into a mob mentality that can lead to real-life consequences. 

• Understand the contributions of others within the scope of conversation.
• Identify barriers to entering the conversation, such as differing perspectives, representation, etc. 
• Critically evaluate other's contributions to the conversation for bias. 
• Recognize changes in perspective as the story develops and new information is presented. 
• Recognize that the conversation is ongoing. 
• Suspend judgement until the larger context is better understood. 
• Understand that your role as contributor and consumer within the conversation has a level of responsibility associated with it. 
• Recognize areas of privilege within the conversation and seek out differing perspectives based on it.