How to Bet on Social Media Cancel Culture: Spotting the Next Backlash

Cancel culture – the phenomenon where someone is ostracized or shunned online, often over controversial statements or actions – has become increasingly common on social media. Brands, celebrities, politicians and regular people alike have faced swift and severe backlash for perceived missteps. This creates an opportunity for savvy social media users to successfully predict and bet on the next cancellation.

2023 – the Year for Celebrity Cancelations

Several major celebrities faced serious controversies and cancellations in 2023, facing backlash for offensive behavior and even criminal convictions. Actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison after being convicted of raping two women. However, his That 70s Show co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis controversially wrote letters supporting him, sparking outrage online.

Singer Doja Cat also faced significant backlash, losing 500,000 Instagram followers due to berating fans and wearing a shirt promoting a controversial internet personality.

Other cancellations last year include actor Jonathan Majors being dropped from future Marvel projects after making offensive comments. Elon Musk’s Twitter/X drama continued as well, especially after reinstating banned accounts and laying off a large number of employees.

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women, and the fallout from the allegations is still ongoing, which could lead to significant jail time if he’s found guilty of the charges.

Comedian Chris Rock faced criticism for mocking Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss condition on stage. Singer The Weeknd was slammed for defending a controversial HBO show starring Blackpink’s Jennie and Lily-Rose Depp that romanticized grooming. Finally, Britney Spears’ memoir contained revelations about ex Justin Timberlake that portrayed him in an unflattering light, and his later DUI arrest sealed his fate.

Celebs Who Got Canceled in 2024

Unsurprisingly, 2024 hasn’t been much better for some people. Blake Lively suffered a barrage of online abuse on social media after footage from a 2016 interview with her and Parker Posey went viral and the interview told people how rude Lively had been to her. Lively has since been trolled for claiming to be ‘working class’ when she’s anything but.

Jay Z is also having a tough time right now after a rape lawsuit was filed against him, which he denies. The fallout from this continues to rumble on, although it appears his wife, Beyonce, is standing by him for now.

Conor McGregor, the larger-than-life MMA fighter, is another celeb tainted with the rape brush. A civil court found the ex-UFC fighter guilty of the brutal rape of a woman in 2018. During the trial, he also admitted to taking cocaine, and many believe his career is now over. Social media certainly thinks so, and he’s faced a barrage of criticism following the verdict.

All of this highlights how cancel culture remains prominent, with major celebs across entertainment facing serious career and reputation damage for offensive behaviors ranging from inappropriate comments to criminal sexual misconduct. The breadth of those cancelled illustrates how consequences can be swift for public figures that cross lines in the current cultural climate.

If you want to place a bet on who is likely to suffer social media cancelation next, here’s how to spot the likely targets and capitalize on cancel culture bets.

Look for Problematic Histories

One of the easiest ways to identify cancel culture targets is to look for those with problematic histories. Once-forgotten past actions and statements can resurface rapidly on social media, sparking immediate outrage. Compile lists of celebrities, brands and public figures who have faced scandals, allegations or criticism in the past. Watch their social feeds closely for sudden upticks in callouts, which likely indicate past controversies being dredged up. The more controversial their past actions, the higher the chances they’ll face severe backlash.

Monitor for Poorly Received Actions

Stay alert for any major public actions or statements that receive immediate and widespread criticism. A celebrity making a tone-deaf comment, a brand releasing an offensive ad, a politician introducing an unpopular bill – strong initial negative reactions signal a high probability of cancellation. Note which figures face the harshest criticisms and monitor them closely, as it often escalates quickly. If you spot the signs of a pending cancellation early, you can place your bet before the backlash reaches its peak.

Identify Likely Trigger Topics

Some topics and actions almost guarantee an angry mob response on social media, including: racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, sexual assault, animal abuse and anti-environmentalism. Statements related to these topics that many perceive as ignorant, inflammatory or intolerant often lead to immediate cancellation – especially with no apology. Follow figures who frequently address heated issues, monitoring for any views expressed that clash with current cultural values. If you notice them step out of line, bet on their impending cancellation.

Follow Cancel Culture Watchdogs

A number of accounts and online communities dedicate themselves to calling out potentially offensive actions and highlighting cancellation candidates. Follow cancel culture watchdogs who flag concerning statements and behaviors from public figures, catalyzing outrage that can lead to serious backlash. Check which figures they’re currently criticizing most aggressively, as they likely identified the next main target. Their early warnings provide an opportunity to place bets before cancellations go mainstream.

Analyze Engagement Data

Social listening tools provide valuable data that can identify spikes in negative sentiment and discussions. Track engagement metrics around key figures to spot sudden surges in comments and shares calling them out. Also, analyze associated sentiment – a rise in very negative sentiment indicates brewing backlash. Use this data to determine the topics and figures most likely to face cancel culture consequences next. Place your bets on those with rapidly rising negative engagement.

Cancel culture can erupt suddenly on social media, but certain warning signs indicate likely upcoming backlash. Keep close watch on problematic histories being resurfaced, poorly received public actions, inflammatory trigger topics, cancel culture watchdogs, and shifts in negative engagement. When you quickly recognize the next cancellation targets, you can bet accordingly and profit from their downfall. With some diligent monitoring, your bets could pay off big thanks to social media outrage.