Are we getting online justice wrong?

Lately, I have been wondering: What if we have been getting online justice wrong? I have seen it again and again: a video goes viral of a moment where a person is caught doing something questionable, embarrassing, or just… not their best. Suddenly, that person’s worst moment becomes their entire identity in the eyes of millions.  The internet is now allowed to judge someone based on a few seconds of their life. Wash, rinse, repeat. Something I have begun to think about is why. Why do we go from correcting someone… to destroying them? Why does it so often turn into an online mob? We say we want accountability. But are we holding people accountable — or just turning pain into entertainment?

Recently, I was enamored by the events that were surrounding Streamer University, created by Kai Cenat. As a young Black woman and casual gamer hoping to share my gaming journey through streaming, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of FOMO. How could I not? Kai Cenat had created something amazing for streamers! 

For those of you who may not know what I am talking about, Streamer University was a four-day boot camp for aspiring content creators, organized by Kai Cenat. The boot camp was created to blend entertainment with education, offering up-and-coming streamers a unique opportunity to learn from established streamers and industry professionals. The vision Kai Cenat had was to create a hands-on experience where 120 selected participants could gain insights into the world of content creation. The event was designed to provide practical knowledge while fostering creativity and collaboration among participants.

Steamer University had highlighted the performative aspects of internet fame and provided a launchpad for emerging talent it also, however, came with its fair share of controversies and criticisms. 

From unsanctioned parties to less than harmless pranks with baby oil, there were several, well, questionable behaviors from a few well-known streamers and celebrities. All of which, and I will be honest, had me in a chokehold. I laughed, I questioned, and I got infuriated with certain people. But there was one controversy that stuck with me. 

Amid everything that was happening at Streamer University, there was one young black woman who had made fun of another young black streamer, Caiuwus Appearance. The comments had impacted Caiuwus to such a degree that she was later seen crying. Both at Streamer University and online, content creators and streamers made sure to comfort Caiuwus. Kai Cenat had also made sure to speak with her and even got the young women who had made the hurtful comments to apologize.  There would be some who would question the strength of the apology but none the less the apology was attempted.

However, that was not what stuck with me, it was what happened after. On my TikTok for you page, I saw countless creators not only express their support for Caiuwus, but also had a few choice words for the streamer who had made a mistake. People weren’t just calling her out; they were calling her names, mocking her appearance, and saying things just as bad or even worse than what she had originally said. It was almost as if, suddenly since the streamer had made a mistake, it was ok to spew hatred towards her. 

The streamer who was being hurtful had clearly done something wrong and accountability needed to be taken. But when did it become ok to direct hateful comments towards someone who started with the hateful comments? When did it become ok to call our provoked hatred, justice? Why is it ok to Weaponize our outrage onto a specific person? And how is it that people do not see how their actions are also just as hurtful? 

You might be wondering: ok well since you have all these questions, what do you propose we do? How do we make these changes? How can we truly hold someone accountable online without making them feel the same actions they inflicted on someone else? 

First, we must call out the harm. I saw that there was another streamer who had made a video with the original young woman who had made those comments. Tell her how it wasn’t ok for her to make those comments. 

Second, Don’t Lead with Shame, lead with growth. In my life, there have been far too many times that when I made a mistake and was shamed after the fact it left a hurtful impact on me. I don’t remember the lessons I was supposed to learn but more so remember the hurtful words that were said to me. But the moments when someone took the time to help me learn, those moments I attribute them to my growth. 

No plant ever grew faster because someone scolded it. Growth takes nurturing — not shame. 

Last but not least, be careful not to dehumanize — even when you're angry. This is hard, but if you start calling people names or mimicking the same behavior as the perpetrator, you’re contributing to a cycle of hatred that will only continue.

At the end of the day, I wrote this in hopes that my shared thoughts could maybe call for self-reflection for others. As well. The internet isn’t just a place where content lives. It’s where real people live too. And if we want a better online world, we have to stop confusing punishment with justice. We don’t have to choose between holding people accountable and showing compassion. We need to do both. That’s how real change happens. 

I hope we all begin to ask: How can I properly contribute to this situation that can lead to change and growth? How can I create compassion and not focus on the outrage and hatred that I currently see? 

Because outrage may be loud — but compassion is what makes us better.