Chapter 1

Introduction

Cancel culture can briefly be described as the active attempt to silence a person

that has expressed an opinion that offended someone whether it was intentional or not.

A notable example of cancel culture was shown in the 1991 motion picture New Jack.

City, where Nino Brown tells his girlfriend to “Cancel that bitch” and breaks up with her I’ll

purchase another one.” In 2014, the phrase became more well-known after an episode

of VH1’s one of the cast members of the reality show Love and Hip-Hop: New York,

Cisco Rosado, also declares to his girlfriend, “You’re canceled.” Given that Twitter has

been a well-known social media platform since the quotation started to appear on

numerous user accounts in 2006. Priorities to social media Considering the

aforementioned instances, which date back to the 1950s and have a deeper

significance, US boycotts and civil rights movements in the 1960s where the concept

aimed to advance African Americans the eradication of social inequities and

empowerment.

Moving ahead to 2015, as stated by Romano (2020) in a Vox online piece,

cancel culture became popular on Twitter and was employed as a response. To

someone acting in a way that you personally found objectionable. Recently, there has

been a lot of attention focused on the cancel culture, in which people cancel famous

personalities and prominent figures (like J.K. Rowling, Several celebrities, including Ellen

DeGeneres and Kevin Hart, whose actions are said to have upset a particular individual,

business, or other organization (Romano, 2020). If people feel free to express their

views in their communities, the democratic process can respond to and resolve

competing ideas that go unchallenged by opposing views risk becoming weak and brittle

rather than being strengthened by tough scrutiny. When speech is stifled or when
dissenters are shut out of public discourse, a society also loses its ability to resolve

conflict, and it faces the risk of political violence (The New York Times Editorial Board,

2022).

According to Velasco (2020), social networking platforms were initially designed

to facilitate diverse online interactions among users, which in turn led to the emergence

of digital participatory cultures and social movements. Recently, a contemporary online

phenomena known as “cancel culture” has made its way into the language of digital

culture, where people who defy expectations face criticism and exclusion. Public

members that engage in cancel culture on social media and other platforms risk fines

that might negatively impact their careers and personal life (Louis, 2021). A common

phenomenon emerging on social media has been what many people have come to call

“Call-out Culture” – “a way of behaving in a society or group in which people are often

criticized in public, for example on social media, for their words or actions, or asked to

explain them” according to the Cambridge Dictionary. ‘‘Cancel culture’’ is the practice of

global withdrawing of support or tendency of engaging in mass cancelling as a way of

expressing disapproval and exerting social pressures that, take place in social media

platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Historically, cancel culture has always existed; its manifestations have simply

changed. When a person, group, or organization is cancelled, it means that their views

on social justice or politics have been violated, and that they are being publicly shamed

and boycotted as a result. The rise of social media has emerged the social phenomena

called cancel culture, where individuals hold influencers and endorsed brands

accountable for perceived immoral actions. Cancel culture originates from a desire for

social justice, where the consequences of those cancelled could be temporary and long-

lasting reputational damage.

 According to Milieu Insight’s study on cancel culture (2022), it was revealed that

66% of the 1000 Filipino respondents, who were ages 16 to 40, claimed to disagree with

a person’s or group’s actions or opinions, with 54% of respondents saying they were

when public individuals are implicated in a controversy, there’s a propensity to cancel

them. Due to cultural problems like cultural appropriation, which affects 50% of people

compared to 40% generally, and most crucially, political viewpoint, which stands at 48%

compared to 35% overall. This research proves that cancel culture is practiced by

Filipinos, especially in this current age, when even children get engaged with a problem,

proving how strong social impact exists. The current research builds upon prior studies

examining the impact of social media on adolescents’ cognitive and social development

(Boyd, 2014; Moreno et al., 2011). By delving into the awareness and comprehension of

cancel culture among high school students, this study seeks to contribute valuable

insights to the ongoing discourse on youth engagement with digital culture.

Researchers have not explored the impact of cancel culture on high school

students, who spend a lot of time online. They are unsure about how cancel culture

influences their worldview, online behavior, and friendships. Additionally, they have not

explored its potential mental health effects. Understanding these specifics will help better

understand cancel culture’s impact on the next generation.

The purpose of this study is to find out what high school students think about

cancel culture – how much they know, what they feel, and how it affects them online and

in real life. We want to understand how cancel culture might be influencing the way

teenagers interact with each other and how it might be linked to their happiness. The aim

is to get a clear picture of what cancel culture means for young people.
 Statement of the problem

1. What is the level of awareness and understanding of cancel culture among high

school students?

2. What are the factors that leads to cancel culture?

3. What is the significant relationship of level of awareness and understanding of cancel

culture to the social well being of students.

Hypothesis of the study

Ho1. There is no significant relationship between the level of awareness and

understanding of cancel culture among high school students.

Ho2. There is no significant relationship between the factors that leads to cancel culture

among high school

Ho3. There is no significant relationship between the level of awareness and

understanding of cancel culture among high school students and their social well-being.

Scopes and Delimitations

This study will focus on the level of Awareness and Understanding of Cancel

Culture Among High School Students. The study may not include a representative

sample of all high school students as it will depend on the availability and willingness of

participants within the chosen educational institution or community. The study will

conduct at Villarica High School (VHS), and the target research participants are the

Junior High School and Senior High School students. This study is limited to the student

of Villarica High School in Midsayap, North Cotabato and specifically targets the High

School students population. It will not encompass other schools or communities in the

region.
 Significance of the Study

This study is beneficial to the following:

Students. This study may help students understand and navigate the impact it has on

their lives. It provides insights into decision-making and social interactions, helping them

make informed choices in a culture where cancel culture plays a significant role.

Teacher. This study offers teachers valuable insights into the impact of cancel culture

within the school environment, guiding students through discussions on sensitive topics,

and potentially offering strategies for navigating cancel culture in a constructive and

informed manner. Additionally, teachers can play a crucial role in fostering critical

thinking skills and promoting respectful dialogue among students.

School Administrators. This study may help school administrator in addressing the

prevalent issue of cancel culture in schools. By gaining insights into students’ awareness

and behavior, you can implement targeted digital literacy education and tailor support

programs to specific groups. This approach ensures a more inclusive and respectful

school environment.

Parents. Parents play a crucial role in children’s understanding of cancel culture by

guiding them, fostering critical thinking, and promoting open discussions about social

issues, empowering them to contribute positively.

Future Researchers. This study can help future researchers by giving them useful

information about what high school students understand about cancel culture. It provides

insights into how society's rules, culture, and online communication affect young people.

This knowledge can be valuable for future studies and help researchers develop better

ways to address social issues and encourage critical thinking skills in youth.