YouTube has become a battleground for digital justice. From callout videos exposing scammers to exposés on influencers’ hidden misdeeds, users are taking justice into their own hands. These digital vigilantes argue they’re providing a necessary service, holding powerful figures accountable where institutions have failed.
However, the line between accountability and harassment is thin. Misidentification, doxxing, and mob mentality can lead to irreversible damage. Innocent people have had their reputations destroyed based on misinformation.
The trend raises important ethical questions: Who gets to decide what’s worthy of exposure? Is it ethical to profit from someone else’s downfall? And how do we ensure fairness in a decentralized system of justice?
As digital platforms become more influential, users must think critically about the power they wield. Holding people accountable is important—but so is ensuring the process is just.