Social media and cancel culture go together. Without social media, cancel culture would not have accelerated nearly as much over the past ten years. 

Getting canceled isn’t a fun topic to discuss, but we at GetOutPass won’t shy away from writing about it if it means helping someone cope with it, even in a small way. In this blog post, we will discuss what you can do when you experience getting canceled. We’ll also share with you some tips to avoid being canceled. 

What Getting Canceled Means

Cancel culture is a type of banning. It is the removal or cancellation of a person, organization, product, brand, or anything else resulting from an issue that a community or group opposes or finds offensive. The primary method of canceling an entity or individual is blocking, unfollowing, and/or verbally targeting them on social media platforms. 

Simply put, to cancel something means that a person or group stops supporting someone or something due to an actual or perceived transgression.

What To Do if You Get Canceled

The most helpful thing anyone else can do to survive a cancellation, however, is to plan ahead. Like a natural disaster, a cancellation has the power to ruin your finances, your daily living, and even your physical safety.

Here is a reliable guide that will help you if you ever get canceled.

Prepare Yourself

Even if you cannot aggressively save money, avoiding having all your funds in one place is a great way to be financially prepared. Try taking multiple part-time jobs rather than one full-time position, for instance, so you can continue earning money even if you lose your full-time work. In that way, you will be able to pay for your expenses if you unexpectedly lose your primary source of income.

Furthermore, don't forget to regularly clean your online footprint to protect yourself from the worst cancellation effects, like doxxing or hacking. 

See what you can find when you search about yourself. Can you find your address online? Do you have personal information or a call-in number you don't want made public? Put everything that could reveal your information to a potential malicious web troll in private. You can also try to remove your private information from people search websites and set your social media accounts to private. Additionally, take the necessary precautions to protect your online identity, such as using a password manager and configuring multi-factor authentication for your accounts.

Express Your Apologies

Say you're sorry if you were wrong. If you felt bad after being canceled for something you said or did, apologize. However, take some time to prepare a sincere, thoughtful response before you do. 

Once you're prepared, express your apology. However, everyone might not agree with it, even when your apology comes from the heart. 

On the other hand, some people can tell that you’re sincere and allow your apology to change how they feel about you. At the very least, it will lessen their desire to make you their number one enemy.

Here are some things that you should bear in mind if you're going to make an apology.

• Admit your mistake - Show that you are aware of what you did. This demonstrates that you're apologizing genuinely out of regret rather than just because someone told you that you had to. If you can prove that you understand who was at fault, who was harmed, and the nature of the offense, your apology is more likely to be accepted.
• Explain the offense - In some circumstances, it can be helpful to clarify an offense, particularly to establish whether the violation was intentional or not. Additionally, it won't occur again.
• Show regret - It's normal to experience guilt or shame after hurting someone or something. By expressing these emotions, you demonstrate that you are aware of it and you feel sorry for the suffering you brought.
• Make up for it - An effective apology should include steps to undo the harm. Make a move to demonstrate that you are aware of the gravity of your error.

Ask for Support

Be sure to rely on the people who are still standing beside you before, during, and after a cancellation takes place. Although being canceled may make you feel like you have lost everyone, you will likely still have family, friends, and other loved ones who would be happy to support and assist you if needed. Do not hesitate to request the emotional or material support you need.

A significant side effect of cancellation is frequently betrayal of trust. People who you thought were true friends might ghost on you or throw you under the bus. Nevertheless, it's crucial to avoid isolating yourself as a result. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that everyone is against you, that no one wants to assist you, and that you can no longer trust anyone. There are still people in your life who will support you. You might be shocked to learn who they are. Even though it's challenging, keep giving people a chance to lift you when your life isn’t heading in the direction you want. 

Be open and honest about your mental and emotional struggles with those supporting you. Do your best to explain how they can help. You can also ask for help if you need to manage your emotions during this crisis.

How To Avoid Being Cancelled

Getting canceled isn’t fun, but it’s the world we live in today. 

To avoid being canceled, acknowledge that each person has different backgrounds, experiences, and values. Remember that not everyone shares your beliefs. This can help you avoid saying or doing something that will make you a cancellation target. 

At this age, remember that you don’t have to mean something to offend someone. Sometimes, people only consider what they feel, not the “whys” behind your actions. It doesn’t matter for them because “the harm has been done.” When this happens, try to find a way to move on rather than persuade them that you weren’t trying to offend anyone. Just say your apologies and take what you can from that experience. Then, apply it to your life to be more compassionate and empathic.