The Psychological Toll of Virtue Signaling and Cancel Culture

The Rise of Virtue Signaling

In the modern digital age, the internet has become a battleground for moral superiority. Most people online engage in an unspoken competition to prove their righteousness and correctness. This phenomenon, often referred to as "virtue signaling," involves publicly expressing opinions or sentiments to demonstrate one's good character or moral correctness.

Virtue signaling is not just about expressing genuine beliefs but about showcasing them in a way that garners approval from others. If someone mentions something not in line with popular opinion, they are often attacked to show they are less virtuous. This behavior creates an environment where people feel pressured to constantly signal their virtues, leading to significant psychological stress.

The Impact of Cancel Culture

Cancel culture has intensified in recent years, particularly following movements such as MeToo. The pressure to conform to popular narratives is immense, and questioning the validity of claims can lead to instant cancellation. This trend punishes those who dare to voice dissenting opinions, stifling open discussion and debate.

The competitive nature of proving moral superiority online is damaging to mental health. On social media, if you don't constantly virtue signal, you are often labeled negatively. This constant need to compete in virtue signaling is causing psychological damage, as people feel the pressure to always be on the "right" side of every issue.

The Media's Role in Exacerbating the Problem

The media plays a significant role in reflecting social media trends rather than real-life opinions and priorities. This exacerbates the problem, as the loudest voices online are often given the most attention. Around 80% of people on the "left" are closer to the center and don't care about many issues that are loudly debated online. However, the media amplifies these debates, making them seem more significant than they are.

's biggest issue is that upvotes are conflated with truthfulness or correctness, making it a popularity contest. Many users upvote already upvoted posts and downvote already downvoted ones without critical thinking. This creates an echo chamber where only popular opinions are heard, and dissenting voices are silenced.

The Paradox of Liberalism and Intolerance

True liberalism is about tolerance and being open to differing opinions. However, the current trend of silencing dissenting opinions is paradoxically fascist. Intolerance is a key facet of fascism, making the current cancel culture behavior paradoxically fascist. Many young people today are confused about the defining principles of their political and philosophical beliefs.

"Virtue signaling" is a term used to describe people who publicly express opinions to demonstrate their good character. "Victim status claiming" is a part of virtue signaling, where individuals highlight their victimhood to gain moral superiority. There is interesting discussion about "memespace egregores" on the Handwaving Freakoutery substack, which delves into the collective consciousness formed by shared online memes and beliefs.

The Shifting Overton Window

The Overton window, which represents the range of acceptable public discourse, has shifted significantly. This shift has led to confusion among 20-somethings about their political stances. Social media platforms often do not reflect the real-life opinions and priorities of most people, creating a distorted view of what is considered acceptable or important.

The trend of cancel culture punishes those who question popular narratives, leading to a lack of open discussion. The competitive nature of proving moral superiority online is damaging to mental health, as people feel the pressure to constantly signal their virtues. This environment stifles genuine conversation and fosters a culture of fear and conformity.

The rise of virtue signaling and cancel culture has created a toxic online environment. The pressure to constantly compete in virtue signaling is causing psychological damage, and the media's role in amplifying these trends only exacerbates the problem. True liberalism is about tolerance and open discussion, and the current trend of silencing dissenting opinions is paradoxically fascist. It is essential to recognize the psychological toll of these behaviors and strive for a more open and tolerant online discourse.