Teri Monroe, Author at Beating Broke

In 2024, more than just TV shows were canceled. As a society, when someone steps out of line we often “cancel” them to hold them accountable or publicly shame them. However, in the era of social media, we are quick to judge regardless of the facts. Instead of engaging in discourse when we have differing points of view, we silence other people’s opinions more frequently. Pew Research found that 14% of adults described cancel culture as a form of censorship and another 12% felt it was mean-spirited attacks on a person to cause them harm. That said, people and things are still being canceled in 2024, despite any feelings about our so-called “cancel culture.” Here’s a look at some things that have been canceled this year (so far).

1. Blake Lively

Blake Lively has received some heat during the filming and promotion of her latest movie “It Ends with Us.” She has been painted as out of touch by fans when she didn’t understand the gravity of the domestic abuse her character experienced. There also was obvious tension with her co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Lively said that she was caught off guard by all the negative comments she received online during the promotion of the movie.

As she traveled to promote the film, previous interviews also resurfaced where Lively seemed to be rude to the interviewer. Take a look at this clip below. It still isn’t clear if her career will fully bounce back after these controversies.

2. Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson

Old content of business partners Jeffree Star and Shane Dawson resurfaced showing bullying, manipulation, and racist remarks. Seeing this, many major retailers dropped Jeffree Star’s popular makeup line from their online and brick-and-mortar storefronts. Despite being canceled multiple times, the stars are fighting to make a comeback.

For influencers like Jeffree and Shane, this demonstrates the long-term impact of past behavior on one’s career, especially if you are in the public eye. What’s challenging is that there is little separation between private and public life for social media influencers. Fans expect access to every aspect of an influencer’s life. However, many influencers are beginning to draw boundaries when it comes to their private lives. Only time will tell if Jeffree and Shane return to their former glories.

3. Yeezy

Yeezy Shoes Cancelled — Image Source: Pexels

The brand Yeezy finally met its demise in 2024. Founder Kanye West’s anti-sematic remarks led to the cancelation of West’s partnership with Adidas. The shoe company has plans to sell the remaining Yeezy inventory through the end of 2024 on its digital platforms. They will not be sold in stores. West has struggled with bipolar disorder, but his comments were unacceptable, leading to the dismantling of his popular sportswear brand. This begs the question though, should cancel culture give second chances to individuals struggling with mental health?

4. Kyte Baby

Kyte Baby Cancel Culture — Image Source: Pexels

In January 2024, the internet boycotted the popular baby clothing brand Kyte Baby after an incident with an employee. An employee requested to work remotely while her newborn, whom she adopted, was in the NICU. The request was denied and she was forced to resign from her position. Founder Ying Liu quickly apologized for her mistake after the controversy went viral on TikTok. After an insincere scripted video that also received backlash, Liu posted a second apology video. While the brand has survived, many moms are still boycotting. This is an important lesson for brands that consumers expect company values to be upheld and they are constantly watching.

5. Kellogg’s Cereal

Kellogg’s has received heat this year for being tone-deaf. In February 2024 on CNBC’s Squak, CEO Gary Pilnick suggested that families consider “cereal for dinner” to combat rising food costs. While the company has been promoting eating cereal for dinner since 2022, the statement was met with criticism since many families are facing real challenges with food insecurity this year. A boycott quickly ensued.

Then again, in October, the company faced more scrutiny about the ingredients used in its products. Hundreds of protestors gathered outside Kellogg’s headquarters in Michigan to hold them accountable for the promise they made to remove artificial dyes from their foods. The company has managed to do this in Canada and other countries. In the United States, Kellogg’s cereals still contain both food dyes and chemical preservatives. Soon after, the hashtag #CancelKelloggs was trending and more people were calling to boycott the brand.

6. The Willy Wonka Experience

The Willy Wonka Experience Cancelled — Image Source: 123RF

You may be familiar with the viral Willy Wonka Experience letdown that happened in Glasgow. Many experiences like this have become popular within the last few years like the Friends Experience, the Ice Cream Museum, and more. This particular Willy Wonka Experience overpromised and undelivered. All of the event’s marketing was generated with AI and was far from what patrons actually experienced. A sparse warehouse with a few decorations was not the “ journey filled with delicious treats, enchanting adventures, and moments worth capturing” that attendees were told they’d see. The operation was quickly shut down and refunds were issued.

The Impact of Cancel Culture

Censorship and Cancel Culture — Image Source: 123RF

We are all used to celebrity scandals, but has cancel culture gotten out of hand? These are just a few examples of the impacts of cancel culture on people and brands. Consumers and fans are quick to shame, blame, and boycott companies and individuals who make mistakes. So, are apologies effective or second chances possible, or do the impacts of cancel culture permanently damage brand reputation and personal image? For many of these people and brands, the impact that cancel culture has had on their lives or businesses is irreversible.

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Teri Monroe

Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.

Are your devices spying on you? The answer is yes. Your devices are full of your personal information and, oftentimes, your user data is bought and sold by third parties. In reality, your data is a goldmine of information about you and your habits. The rate at which we produce data is shocking too. According to Edge Delta’s research, the average person produces 1.7 MB per second or 6,120 MB per hour of data. Every time you share something on Instagram or stream something on Netflix, you are creating data. Beyond that, your devices have the ability to track you physically. With that in mind, here are some of the biggest threats to your privacy and how you can protect yourself.

1. Location Tracking

One of the most obvious ways your devices are spying on you is by sharing your location. Some location services make sense. Google Maps needs to know your location to give you accurate directions or your Pizza Hut app might need your location to confirm delivery or carry out. However, it seems like just about every app wants permission to access your location these days. Oftentimes, it isn’t needed and could potentially put your safety at risk. Make sure to read the fine print when agreeing to location services. You can also shut off permissions in your settings.

2. Installed Application Methods

Cell Phone Apps Are Your Devices Spying on You? — Image Source: Pexels

Your Android may be snooping on you without your knowledge. Many developers use installed application methods or IAMs to see the data stored by other apps on your phone. Researchers explain that more than 50% of apps in the Google Play Store use IAMs. IAMs are usually used for debugging purposes and can be useful, but this information can also provide developers with intimate details about your life. For iPhone users, the same is true but in general, Apple has stricter privacy control policies than Android.

3. Website Cookies

Many of us are aware that our browsing history is tracked by stored cookies. When you visit a new website, you may have seen a pop-up asking you to accept that your cookies are being used. If you accept, your data and activity on that site are stored and can be accessed by the website operator. Cookies are most often used for targeted advertising. They also allow for your login information, shopping carts, and searches to be stored. You can always opt out of cookies when you visit a new site to keep your data safe.

4. Microphone and Camera Access

While your camera and microphone aren’t actively spying on you, they can be hacked. A red flag is if your camera light turns on when you’re not using it. Hackers can record you or listen in without your knowledge. The best way to protect yourself is to cover your camera when not in use, keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, and manage permissions to your camera with caution. One of the most notable cases of hacking involved Ring doorbells. The FTC settled a lawsuit this year with Ring “over charges the company allowed employees and contractors to access consumers’ private videos and failed to implement security protections, enabling hackers to take control of consumers’ accounts, cameras, and videos.”

5. Physical Security

Your devices have the keys to all your information. If you lose your smartwatch or cell phone, anyone could have access to sensitive details like passwords, schedules, and more serious info. It may sound like common sense, but using a lock screen password, face ID, or Touch ID on your devices could save you from trouble in the future. If you do lose your phone, you can use Find My Device if you have an Android. Find My iPhone is available for Apple users. You should also report your phone as stolen if it goes missing. This way, you can be proactive about protecting your information.

Your Devices Are Spying on You But You Can Take Control

In a world where privacy is never guaranteed, it’s important to protect yourself. Your devices are spying on you. Ultimately, the more data you share, the more vulnerable you will be. While it may seem impossible to keep a low profile, you can limit the amount of data you share. Just be sure to manage permissions, use strong passwords, limit cookies and data sharing, and always read privacy agreements.