In recent years, “cancel culture” has emerged as a significant phenomenon in public discourse.
The term refers to the public’s practice of calling out individuals or entities for transgressing societal norms and subsequently ostracizing them on social media and other platforms. We’ve taken a deep dive into the evolving landscape of cancel culture and its implications for brands and businesses and outlined the pivotal role artificial intelligence (AI) can play in helping PR and communications professionals analyse and respond to this phenomenon.
Cancel culture has profound implications for brands, making it increasingly challenging for organisations to remain apolitical in a polarised society. The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that in most surveyed countries, the majority of respondents expect businesses to take a stance on contentious societal issues. Gen Z, in particular, is driving this trend, with their purchasing decisions heavily influenced by personal, social, and environmental values. Notably, this generation’s spending power has also seen significant growth.
While cancel culture is evident across a broad range of demographic groups, its financial impact on brands can be serious. For instance, the backlash against a transgender influencer’s promotion of Bud Light on TikTok in 2023 led to a substantial drop in sales for Bud Light and Budweiser, ultimately resulting in layoffs at the parent company, Anheuser-Busch. This underscores the strong connection between consumer values and purchasing decisions, making it crucial for PR professionals to accurately and quickly measure and understand these beliefs.
In recent years, “cancel culture” has emerged as a significant phenomenon in public discourse.
The term refers to the public’s practice of calling out individuals or entities for transgressing societal norms and subsequently ostracizing them on social media and other platforms. We’ve taken a deep dive into the evolving landscape of cancel culture and its implications for brands and businesses and outlined the pivotal role artificial intelligence (AI) can play in helping PR and communications professionals analyse and respond to this phenomenon.
Cancel culture has profound implications for brands, making it increasingly challenging for organisations to remain apolitical in a polarised society. The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that in most surveyed countries, the majority of respondents expect businesses to take a stance on contentious societal issues. Gen Z, in particular, is driving this trend, with their purchasing decisions heavily influenced by personal, social, and environmental values. Notably, this generation’s spending power has also seen significant growth.
While cancel culture is evident across a broad range of demographic groups, its financial impact on brands can be serious. For instance, the backlash against a transgender influencer’s promotion of Bud Light on TikTok in 2023 led to a substantial drop in sales for Bud Light and Budweiser, ultimately resulting in layoffs at the parent company, Anheuser-Busch. This underscores the strong connection between consumer values and purchasing decisions, making it crucial for PR professionals to accurately and quickly measure and understand these beliefs.
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