Online shaming
Public humiliation on the internet via social media platforms.
Online shaming is a form of public humiliation that takes place on the internet, using social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook, or smaller networks such as email groups. Because it often involves broadcasting private details, the practice raises questions about internet privacy and media ethics. It can appear as call-outs, cancel culture, doxing, negative reviews, or revenge porn.
In this type of shaming, internet users harass, mock, or bully others online. This can happen through direct comments, sharing private messages, or posting private photos. The person being shamed is usually accused of a social misstep, and others use public exposure to punish them. Reasons for shaming include posting offensive comments or images, spreading gossip, or lying—but sometimes the target hasn’t actually done anything wrong. Online shaming can also be a tool for revenge, stalking, blackmail, or threats.
Privacy violations are a central concern. Those shamed may lose their right to privacy and face defamation. David Furlow, who chairs the Media, Privacy and Defamation Committee of the American Bar Association, has pointed out that websites sharing information not in the public record can give a platform to statements that may be untrue.
Opinions differ on whether online shaming is morally acceptable. Some argue that the punishment rarely fits the offense. Martha Nussbaum calls it “the justice of the mob,” saying it is not deliberative, impartial, or neutral. Others defend shaming as potentially constructive if done right. They believe society often shames counter-productively, but that it could be adjusted to help people improve—for instance, by holding people accountable while still allowing for redemption. Some supporters agree with Plato that shame can lead to moral growth. Both sides agree it’s important to avoid what Nussbaum calls a “spoiled identity,” where someone is seen as irredeemable and unwelcome.
Online shaming has become more common with social media, where users can quickly share criticism. Platforms like X let controversial posts spread fast through reposts, hashtags, and comment threads, allowing many people to join in. Because content can be saved and shared again, shaming incidents may stay visible long after they start. In some cases, widespread criticism has led to professional or social consequences, especially when employers or news organ
- field
- Internet culture, media ethics
- known_for
- Public humiliation via social media, cancel culture, doxing, revenge porn
- forms
- Call-outs, cancellation, doxing, negative reviews, revenge porn, social status shaming
Lore & Background
Online shaming is a form of public shaming where internet users are harassed, mocked, or bullied by other internet users online. This shaming may involve commenting directly to or about the shamed; the sharing of private messages; or the posting of private photos. Those being shamed are often accused of committing a social transgression, and other internet users then use public exposure to shame the offender. People have been shamed online for a variety of reasons, usually consisting of some form of social transgression such as posting offensive comments, posting offensive images or memes, online gossip, or lying. Those who are shamed online have not necessarily committed any social transgression, however. Online shaming may be used to get revenge (for example, in the form of revenge pornography), stalk, blackmail, or to threaten other internet users.
Reader's Guide
Online shaming has become more visible with the rise of social media platforms, where users can quickly share information and express criticism toward individuals or organizations. Platforms such as X allow posts highlighting controversial behavior to spread quickly through reposts, hashtags, and comment threads, enabling large numbers of users to participate in public discussions. Because social media content can be widely circulated and archived through screenshots or reposts, incidents of online shaming may remain visible long after the original event occurred. In some cases, widespread criticism on social media has led to professional or social consequences for the individuals involved, particularly when employers, institutions, or news organizations become aware of the controversy. Researchers studying digital communication have noted that the speed and scale of online networks can amplify these events, turning relatively small incidents into widely discussed public controversies. Privacy violation is a major issue in online shaming. Those being shamed may be denied the right to privacy and be subject to defamation. There are different philosophical perspectives on the morality of online public shaming. On the one hand, there is the view that public shaming imposes punishments that are not proportional to the offenses or alleged offenses. On the other hand, there are those who defend the value of public shaming as constructive, if done right. Everyone in this debate agrees that it is important to avoid what Nussbaum calls a 'spoiled identity': to have a spoiled identity is to have the public image of someone who is irredeemable and unwelcome in a community.
Did You Know?
- Online shaming includes forms such as call-outs, cancellation (cancel culture), doxing, negative reviews, and revenge porn.
- David Furlow, chairman of the Media, Privacy and Defamation Committee of the American Bar Association, identified potential privacy concerns raised by websites facilitating distribution of information not part of the pub
- Martha Nussbaum says public shaming represents the 'justice of the mob', but this alleged justice is not 'deliberative, impartial or neutral'.
- In the Justine Sacco incident, a woman with 174 Twitter followers tweeted acerbic jokes and woke up to find she had lost her job and was the number-one Twitter topic worldwide.
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