Cancel Culture (Call-Out Culture) and Processes of Social Exclusion: A Psychosocial Analysis

Abstract

This study analyzed cancel culture on social media, aiming to understand its social and psychological impacts on contemporary society. The research was characterized as qualitative and developed through a bibliographic survey on platforms such as Google Scholar and SciELO, using the keywords “cancel culture,” “social exclusion,” “virtual lynching,” and “mental health.” The results showed that virtual cancellation mainly occurs through digital exposure, collective judgment, and social exclusion, directly affecting the mental health of the individuals involved. It was observed that social media intensifies practices of public humiliation and virtual lynching due to the rapid circulation of information and the wide reach of digital platforms. Among the main impacts identified are anxiety, emotional suffering, social isolation, fear of public exposure, and low self-esteem. The study also highlighted that cancellation functions as a mechanism of belonging and validation within virtual communities. Therefore, cancel culture represents a complex and multidimensional phenomenon, making it necessary to promote more ethical and empathetic communicational practices based on dialogue and conscious accountability in digital environments.