Why did society abandon public shaming, only to revive it on the internet?
In short: Public shaming was once a state-sanctioned punishment in Colonial America, phased out by 1839 in the US due to rising calls for compassion. Today, it has re-emerged as a digital phenomenon. Jon Ronson explores this shift, investigating how online outrage impacts reputations, livelihoods, and the human cost of righteousness.
In his 2015 book, So You've Been Publicly Shamed, journalist Jon Ronson examines the resurgence of public humiliation in the digital age. While historical shaming was a formal legal tool, modern versions are decentralized, driven by social media platforms like Twitter. Ronson argues that the decline of physical shaming in the 19th century was not due to increasing population density, as often assumed, but rather a deliberate societal pivot toward empathy.
Ronson illustrates the volatility of this new landscape through various case studies. He profiles Jonah Lehrer, a journalist who faced intense scrutiny after plagiarism allegations. During a high-profile apology speech at a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation conference, Lehrer was subjected to a live, projected Twitter feed of criticism, which many viewers found insincere. The situation intensified when it was revealed the foundation paid Lehrer $20,000 for the appearance, sparking further backlash.
The book also explores the unpredictable consequences of online conflict, such as the 'donglegate' incident at a PyCon conference. After a woman tweeted a photo of two men making sexual jokes, the resulting fallout led to the firing of one man, 'Hank', and the subsequent termination of the woman who posted the photo. Ronson notes that while both men eventually secured new tech roles, the woman continued to face harassment and unemployment. Ronson’s analysis has drawn mixed reviews; while some praise his blend of academic inquiry and entertainment, others, like Matthew Hutson of The Wall Street Journal, argue the work offers disconnected musings rather than a definitive calculus of the costs and benefits of public shaming.
Beyond the social impact, Ronson investigates the mechanics of reputation management, including how individuals attempt to scrub negative search results through legal and IT strategies. The book’s influence has extended into popular culture, inspiring episodes of television series such as Black Mirror and The Orville, reflecting a broader cultural anxiety regarding the permanence and reach of digital judgment.
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