Assigned Texts:
Osita Nwanevu, “The ‘Cancel Culture’ Con”
Jonathan Haidt, “After Babel”
• Note: use only the assigned reading(s).
In “The ‘Cancel Culture’ Con,” Osita Nwanevu argues that the moral panic over cancel culture is actually a fear of criticism, writing, “Perhaps we should choose instead of understand cancel culture as something much more mundane: ordinary public disfavor voiced by ordinary people across new platforms.” However, Jonathan Haidt argues that the kind of engagement encouraged by social media platforms is bad for democracy, arguing that “the dart guns of social media give more power and voice to the political extremes while reducing the power and voice of the moderate majority” (59).
Using ideas from both authors, write an essay in which you evaluate the relationship between social media and democracy.Papers must have 1″ margins on all sides and be double-spaced with 12-point Times New Roman font.
The final draft must have a Works Cited page.