Cancel culture on campus: Navigating free speech vs. accountability

Has cancel culture become a tool for accountability or a threat to free expression?

Not long ago, people believed death to be the worst form of  “cancelling” a person. Now, a simple hashtag can submit people to cancellation, psychological attacks and relentless torment. While it’s important to acknowledge that cancellation is sometimes necessary, has the ease with which punishment is imposed gone to people’s heads?

In today’s digital age, there are multiple ways to cancel someone, with social media being the most prevalent. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and most notably TikTok have amplified the reach of public opinion, making it both a powerful tool and a dangerous weapon. A single comment can reach an audience who, with little to no context, might agree and rally behind it. This group of supporters often extends the cancellation to mainstream media outlets, including magazines, newspapers, and news channels, further intensifying the scrutiny.

A small comment about a minor issue can subject a person to relentless harassment. The offense could range from something as trivial as a misunderstood glance to an extreme act like physical assault. Why are such vastly different actions met with the same punishment? By combining these acts, are we dissolving the distinction between accountability and unreasonable retribution? And in doing so, are we restricting free will and free expression?

Art By: (Hannah Arabella Gabling//The Underground)

Margaret Wente, a former graduate of the University of Toronto, a notable journalist and editor, was "cancelled" in 2020. Ms. Wente, a former Globe and Mail columnist, was named a member of Massey College’s Quadrangle Society, along with 45 others. This society is recognized for its individual excellence and respect for academia. Following this, U of T students, faculty, alumni, and donors started a petition calling for her resignation. Wente had a history of controversial racial commentary and accusations of plagiarism. Although there was no formal accountability, and it was previously stated that the accusations were “false and outrageous,” Wente resigned. 

The governing board responded with a statement affirming its commitment to “interact and operate in order to eliminate any impediments to an environment that is completely free from anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-gender identity views, and discrimination of any kind.” Margaret Wente was successfully cancelled. 

We did that, we had that power, and we were heard. 

This February, Imam Omar Patel was “let go” from the University of Toronto Scarborough following allegations of an anti-Israel post. Social media can give you everything, but just as easily, it can take it all away. A social media post, which Patel claims was falsely attributed to him, reached the U of T administration.

On December 1, 2023, Omar Patel received an email from U of T administrators containing a screenshot of his Instagram story and a message expressing the university’s concerns about the image. He was instructed to refrain from visiting campus and to postpone counselling appointments. The image had been sent to the administration by Hillel Ontario, an organization focused on amplifying Jewish campus life.

The screenshot showed an Israel Defense Forces soldier standing with an Israeli flag, juxtaposed with a soldier holding a Nazi Germany flag. The caption on the image suggested a parallel between Israel and Nazi Germany’s genocide.

The image had one fault, which caused outrage: the absence of an Instagram username and profile picture, which should typically appear in the top-left corner of an Instagram story. Five days later, a new screenshot was sent to him, this time with the missing features now visible. 

The university did an investigation which resulted in Patel not being reinstated. No additional details were provided on the investigation. He was cancelled. 

And so the question arises again: Has cancelled culture become a tool for accountability or a threat to free expression?

As individuals, we need to take into consideration how one vote, one word, or one protest can affect everything. Our words have weight. Social media has facilitated our reach, but many do not realize it. It is important for us to begin considering the consequences of our digital actions. This is not a critique, it's an invitation to evaluate how one action will influence others, knowing the effect it could have.