The Role of Mediation in a Faceless Conflict
Article by Nicole Nyona assisted by Dr. Ken Wyne Mutuma
Popular unpopular opinion, cancel culture is just the modern day ‘Lynch the witch’ situation. You never know at what point you will be compelled to shun, unfollow and even report a user on a social platform in the name of hashtag cancel! A trial by public opinion that more often than not has adverse effects including the collapse of companies and suicide by individuals. Begging the question, is there room for reconciliation and restoration where the parties are remotely connected and faceless. Even more, what role can mediation play in this faceless war?
In the age of technological development, the internet has unified the world. This has come with both good and bad results. On any given day, a user or two on a social media platform are being cancelled. Similar to a lynching, the accused is neither heard nor given a chance to defend themselves, a decision is made by the greater mob and a lynching set to take effect. There are no cast in stone grounds for cancelling a user. Rather, a trial by public opinion on whether ones’ utterances, actions or inactions contravene the greater public opinion. Notably, this is usually followed by a smear campaign and a lot of misinformation on the subject.
As a result, this sort of faceless public shame causes a rift between users and trickles down to the real life of some. Inevitably it has led to high loss as behind the social media platform persona lies a person. In the last couple of years, the adverse effects have been felt by both entities and individuals with companies crashing over a mere tweet and extremes of suicide where persons have felt cornered or ostracized. What then after public shame? Moreover, how does a cancelled user get back in the event of a mistaken cancellation.
Mediation has such a unique nature, where it’s not too formal in comparison with litigation but at the same time is guided at yielding the best possible results for the parties. It is also not limited by any physical boundaries and can be undertaken even in the most informal settings. Therefore, an introduction of mediation as a conflict resolution method in the space of social media platforms to specifically restore the relationship between the cancelled and the perpetuators of cancelling would be vital. This can be facilitated through live forums like Instagram lives, X spaces and TikTok lives. Although nouvelle, these forums would serve as teachable moments on the adverse effects of cancel culture, restoration of status quo through clarification and as a preventative measure in the event of similar circumstances. Also, it would serve as a learning opportunity on other already existing dispute raising and resolutions options set up by the various apps. These include, reporting and petitions for adjudication of user accounts
In conclusion, mediation in its unique nature has a likely chance to succeed in the face of online disputes. The internet is a free world but even those freedoms must be checked in order to have full enjoyment by each user. Through creating dialogue and reaching resolution to cancel culture. Through interactive platforms, we will foster better relationships, mend broken ones and take it as user learning opportunity on best practices in the face of conflict. Let’s give social media mediation a chance, I vote don’t lynch the witch let them speak!
