GITNUXREPORT 2025

Cancel Culture Statistics

Most Americans see cancel culture as damaging, unjust, and mob-driven online.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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68% of Twitter users have witnessed or experienced someone being canceled online

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43% of Gen Z adults have unfollowed or blocked someone due to their controversial opinions

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The average age of individuals canceled in 2023 is 29

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22% of Americans have personally been “canceled” or faced public backlash for their remarks or actions

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34% of Americans have canceled a subscription or service because of a controversial statement or incident

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70% of college students report having participated in or witnessed online shaming campaigns

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30% of Americans admit to participating in canceling someone online

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60% of Americans report feeling anxious or hesitant to voice their opinions online due to fear of cancelation

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23% of Americans have apologized publicly to avoid cancelation

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71% of university students report feeling pressured to participate in online shaming campaigns

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18% of Americans have reconsidered a relationship or friendship after someone was canceled

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29% of Americans have faced workplace harassment or discrimination following association with a canceled individual

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49% of Americans have changed their online behavior or speech to avoid cancellation

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45% of college students report feeling pressured to participate or conform to cancel culture norms

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85% of canceled individuals say their reputation was permanently damaged

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55% of Americans believe that cancel culture has gone too far

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54% of Americans feel that cancel culture is a threat to free speech

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60% of Americans think that celebrities and public figures should be allowed a second chance after being canceled

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47% of college students believe that cancel culture negatively impacts academic freedom

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53% of Americans say social media amplifies cancel culture more than other platforms

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35% of respondents believe cancel culture promotes accountability, while 32% believe it punishes minor offenses disproportionately

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45% of people believe cancel culture is often driven by social media mobs rather than genuine concern

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29% of Americans have changed their opinion of a public figure after they were canceled

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67% of Americans think cancel culture discourages people from expressing unpopular opinions

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15% of Americans believe that cancel culture is necessary for social justice

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38% of people feel that cancel culture disproportionately affects marginalized groups

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42% of Americans say that cancel culture is a form of online harassment

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48% of respondents feel that cancel culture promotes social accountability, but 50% believe it incites mob mentality

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62% of Americans think that cancel culture is a moral panic rather than genuine social change

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80% of Americans approve of holding public figures accountable but disagree with “canceling” them entirely

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55% of Americans believe media outlets overhype cancel culture stories

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47% of people aged 18-29 say they are concerned about the mob mentality behind cancel culture

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64% of Americans feel that cancel culture discourages genuine dialogue and promotes echo chambers

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53% of Americans say that canceling is often driven by revenge rather than justice

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21% of Americans believe that cancel culture is an effective method for social change

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36% of respondents think that cancel culture unfairly targets individuals without sufficient evidence

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59% of Americans support reforms to reduce the impact of cancel culture, such as due process or due diligence measures

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72% of Americans believe that cancel culture can have a chilling effect on free speech

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28% of respondents think society is too quick to cancel, disregarding context and intent

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65% of Americans believe that cancel culture undermines the core principles of justice and due process

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49% of respondents say they avoid sharing their views online out of fear of being canceled

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50% of Americans think that cancel culture can be used to excessively punish minor transgressions

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39% of Americans believe that cancel culture is often motivated by political agendas rather than genuine accountability

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27% of Americans feel that cancel culture has led to a decline in civility and respectful discourse

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44% of Americans believe cancel culture harms mental health, both for the canceled and the spectators

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66% of respondents believe cancel culture reflects a moral panic rather than genuine social progress

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53% of Americans think that cancel culture penalizes individuals without appropriate due process

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41% of respondents believe cancel culture disproportionately targets minority groups

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64% of Americans think cancel culture is often motivated by revenge rather than justice

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25% of Gen Z respondents feel that cancel culture is sometimes justified, while 37% think it is always unjustified

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58% of Americans are concerned that cancel culture leads to and perpetuates outrage fatigue

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51% of Americans believe cancel culture often leads to unfairly damaging careers

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36% of Americans believe that cancel culture’s influence has increased in the past five years

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49% of Americans support boycotting products or brands associated with canceled public figures

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69% of Americans support restorative justice approaches over cancelation

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31% of Americans worry about the reversibility of cancel culture, fearing innocent people may be permanently harmed

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Key Highlights

55% of Americans believe that cancel culture has gone too far
68% of Twitter users have witnessed or experienced someone being canceled online
43% of Gen Z adults have unfollowed or blocked someone due to their controversial opinions
54% of Americans feel that cancel culture is a threat to free speech
The average age of individuals canceled in 2023 is 29
60% of Americans think that celebrities and public figures should be allowed a second chance after being canceled
47% of college students believe that cancel culture negatively impacts academic freedom
22% of Americans have personally been “canceled” or faced public backlash for their remarks or actions
53% of Americans say social media amplifies cancel culture more than other platforms
49% of Americans support boycotting products or brands associated with canceled public figures
35% of respondents believe cancel culture promotes accountability, while 32% believe it punishes minor offenses disproportionately
45% of people believe cancel culture is often driven by social media mobs rather than genuine concern
85% of canceled individuals say their reputation was permanently damaged

Did you know that over half of Americans believe cancel culture has gone too far, with nearly 70% witnessing or experiencing online shaming, highlighting a growing debate over its impact on free speech, justice, and social accountability?

Behavior and Experiences Related to Cancel Culture

68% of Twitter users have witnessed or experienced someone being canceled online
43% of Gen Z adults have unfollowed or blocked someone due to their controversial opinions
The average age of individuals canceled in 2023 is 29
22% of Americans have personally been “canceled” or faced public backlash for their remarks or actions
34% of Americans have canceled a subscription or service because of a controversial statement or incident
70% of college students report having participated in or witnessed online shaming campaigns
30% of Americans admit to participating in canceling someone online
60% of Americans report feeling anxious or hesitant to voice their opinions online due to fear of cancelation
23% of Americans have apologized publicly to avoid cancelation
71% of university students report feeling pressured to participate in online shaming campaigns
18% of Americans have reconsidered a relationship or friendship after someone was canceled
29% of Americans have faced workplace harassment or discrimination following association with a canceled individual
49% of Americans have changed their online behavior or speech to avoid cancellation
45% of college students report feeling pressured to participate or conform to cancel culture norms

Behavior and Experiences Related to Cancel Culture Interpretation

With nearly three-quarters of university students pressured to engage in or conform to online shaming, and over half of Americans feeling anxious about voicing their opinions, cancel culture has evolved into an unavoidable social specter that silences debate and redefines social boundaries—highlighting a digital age where avoidance often trumps dialogue.

Impacts of Cancel Culture on Society and Individuals

85% of canceled individuals say their reputation was permanently damaged

Impacts of Cancel Culture on Society and Individuals Interpretation

With 85% of canceled individuals reporting lasting damage to their reputations, cancel culture's power to swiftly end careers is profound—yet it raises questions about whether redemption and nuance are being sacrificed at the altar of social media outrage.

Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Cancel Culture

55% of Americans believe that cancel culture has gone too far
54% of Americans feel that cancel culture is a threat to free speech
60% of Americans think that celebrities and public figures should be allowed a second chance after being canceled
47% of college students believe that cancel culture negatively impacts academic freedom
53% of Americans say social media amplifies cancel culture more than other platforms
35% of respondents believe cancel culture promotes accountability, while 32% believe it punishes minor offenses disproportionately
45% of people believe cancel culture is often driven by social media mobs rather than genuine concern
29% of Americans have changed their opinion of a public figure after they were canceled
67% of Americans think cancel culture discourages people from expressing unpopular opinions
15% of Americans believe that cancel culture is necessary for social justice
38% of people feel that cancel culture disproportionately affects marginalized groups
42% of Americans say that cancel culture is a form of online harassment
48% of respondents feel that cancel culture promotes social accountability, but 50% believe it incites mob mentality
62% of Americans think that cancel culture is a moral panic rather than genuine social change
80% of Americans approve of holding public figures accountable but disagree with “canceling” them entirely
55% of Americans believe media outlets overhype cancel culture stories
47% of people aged 18-29 say they are concerned about the mob mentality behind cancel culture
64% of Americans feel that cancel culture discourages genuine dialogue and promotes echo chambers
53% of Americans say that canceling is often driven by revenge rather than justice
21% of Americans believe that cancel culture is an effective method for social change
36% of respondents think that cancel culture unfairly targets individuals without sufficient evidence
59% of Americans support reforms to reduce the impact of cancel culture, such as due process or due diligence measures
72% of Americans believe that cancel culture can have a chilling effect on free speech
28% of respondents think society is too quick to cancel, disregarding context and intent
65% of Americans believe that cancel culture undermines the core principles of justice and due process
49% of respondents say they avoid sharing their views online out of fear of being canceled
50% of Americans think that cancel culture can be used to excessively punish minor transgressions
39% of Americans believe that cancel culture is often motivated by political agendas rather than genuine accountability
27% of Americans feel that cancel culture has led to a decline in civility and respectful discourse
44% of Americans believe cancel culture harms mental health, both for the canceled and the spectators
66% of respondents believe cancel culture reflects a moral panic rather than genuine social progress
53% of Americans think that cancel culture penalizes individuals without appropriate due process
41% of respondents believe cancel culture disproportionately targets minority groups
64% of Americans think cancel culture is often motivated by revenge rather than justice
25% of Gen Z respondents feel that cancel culture is sometimes justified, while 37% think it is always unjustified
58% of Americans are concerned that cancel culture leads to and perpetuates outrage fatigue
51% of Americans believe cancel culture often leads to unfairly damaging careers
36% of Americans believe that cancel culture’s influence has increased in the past five years

Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Cancel Culture Interpretation

While a majority of Americans acknowledge that cancel culture can hold public figures accountable, over half believe it's gone too far, fueled by social media mobs and moral panic, and fearing it stifles genuine dialogue and due process—highlighting a nation caught between seeking justice and fearing societal hysteria.

Public Opinion on Cancel Culture

49% of Americans support boycotting products or brands associated with canceled public figures
69% of Americans support restorative justice approaches over cancelation
31% of Americans worry about the reversibility of cancel culture, fearing innocent people may be permanently harmed

Public Opinion on Cancel Culture Interpretation

While nearly half of Americans champion boycotts and a substantial majority prefer restorative justice, the 31% apprehensive about the irreparable damage of cancel culture underscores a cautious recognition that sometimes, the line between accountability and irreversibility blurs in the quest for social justice.