Election Anxiety, Cancel Culture, and the Echo Chamber: What the 2020 U.S. Election Taught Us About Ourselves
The 2020 U.S. presidential election wasn’t just another political event, it was an emotional rollercoaster that exposed how divided, anxious, and polarized our world has become. I remember that night vividly. Everyone was on edge, expecting a clear Biden victory, yet the race stayed neck and neck far longer than expected. It felt like the world was collectively holding its breath.
In this conversation with Robert and Mo, we unpacked that tension not just the politics, but the human psychology behind it. Robert shared how he deliberately avoided the news on election day just to preserve his sanity. It’s something so many of us can relate to how the 24/7 news cycle amplifies anxiety, outrage, and helplessness.
Black Lives Matter and the Polarization of Justice
One of the biggest forces shaping that election was the Black Lives Matter movement. What started as a global call for racial justice evolved into a deeply politicized symbol. On one side, it became a beacon for equality and reform; on the other, it was framed as chaos and disorder. Trump’s “law and order” rhetoric tapped into those fears and created a massive cultural divide.
This wasn’t just about politics it was about how people see justice, identity, and belonging. It revealed that we weren’t just voting for leaders; we were voting for narratives that aligned with our fears, our hopes, and our sense of control in a changing world.
Election Night Anxiety: The Stress of Watching History Unfold
As the results trickled in, millions around the world held their breath. Many expected Joe Biden to take an early lead, but the race stayed unexpectedly close. Robert admits he wasn’t surprised he saw it coming. The “shy Trump voter” effect, he notes, made polling unreliable. Many Americans quietly supported Donald Trump but avoided saying so publicly due to social stigma.
For Robert, the night also highlighted the mental health cost of modern politics. He consciously limited his news intake to stay grounded, a strategy many could relate to amid the nonstop media frenzy. His experience underscored a growing truth: constant exposure to political drama can wear down our emotional resilience.
Distrust and Disengagement: Why Many Minority Voters Stayed Home
For many minority communities, especially Black and Brown voters, there’s a deep distrust of government institutions, a feeling that the system was never built for them. That mistrust leads to lower voter turnout and a disconnection from democracy itself.
It’s not apathy. It’s disillusionment. When you’ve spent generations watching promises break and systems fail, why would you believe that voting will change anything? That’s the real challenge, rebuilding trust in systems that were never built with you in mind.
Kanye West and the Blurred Lines of Celebrity Politics
And then there was Kanye West, one of the wildest subplots of that election. His presidential run blurred the line between performance and politics. Was it genuine ambition, or spectacle? It sparked a larger conversation about mental health, fame, and the way celebrity culture reshaped our understanding of leadership.
Kanye’s campaign might have seemed chaotic, but it also forced us to confront how we consume fame and how , in this era, influence often outweighs integrity.
Living in Echo Chambers: The New Reality of Modern Discourse
One of the most striking insights from the conversation was how deeply people live in ideological bubbles.
Social media algorithms feed us exactly what we want to hear, reinforcing our beliefs and leaving little room for nuance or empathy. We’ve created digital echo chambers where outrage feels safer than curiosity.
Robert and Mo reminded me and all of us that if we want to bridge divides, we have to step outside our comfort zones and engage with perspectives that challenge us. Only by doing that can we rediscover what it means to have meaningful dialogue.
CA Beyond the U.S : The Canadian Mirror
As Canadians, we often watch U.S. politics like a Netflix drama, but the truth is it affects us deeply. Conversations about race, identity, and justice don’t stop at the border. Black Canadians face many of the same systemic issues discrimination, violence, invisibility just with less media attention.
The election forced many Canadians to hold up a mirror. We can’t claim moral high ground while ignoring our own inequities.
Cancel Culture and the Limits of Online Activism
We also questioned whether social media activism is actually helping. Remember “Blackout Tuesday”? Millions posted black squares in solidarity but then what?
Symbolic gestures can sometimes feel like progress, but they risk becoming performative.
And then there’s “cancel culture” makes it even harder. People are scared to talk about race, politics, or privilege because they fear saying the wrong thing. But honest dialogue, the messy, uncomfortable kind is exactly what we need to move forward.
Reclaiming Agency and Perspective
At the end of the day, what I took away from this discussion was simple but profound: we can’t outsource our power to politicians.
Real change starts at the individual level in how we think, how we engage, and how we treat others.
Instead of obsessing over election outcomes, maybe we need to focus on how we can control our actions, our empathy, and our willingness to listen. That’s how we reclaim agency in an anxious world.
Final Thoughts
The 2020 election wasn’t just a referendum on leadership it was a reflection of us. Our fears. Our divisions. Our inability to talk to one another. But it was also a reminder that progress isn’t dead.
If we can learn to speak honestly, to debate without destroying, to disagree without dehumanizing, then maybe there’s still hope for the kind of democracy we all want to believe in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is election anxiety and why do people experience it?
Election anxiety happens when constant news updates, political debates, and social media arguments make people feel stressed or helpless. It’s caused by uncertainty and the fear that the outcome could dramatically change their lives or society.
Q2. How does social media increase political polarization?
Social media algorithms show us content that matches our beliefs. Over time, this creates digital bubbles where we only hear opinions like ours. It makes people less open to discussion and more likely to see others as “wrong” instead of just different.
Q3. What is BLM?
BLM stands for Black Lives Matter, a global movement that began in the United States in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin.
Q4. Why were people protesting for BLM?
People protested for Black Lives Matter (BLM) to demand justice, equality, and an end to police brutality against Black people. The movement began in 2013 after Trayvon Martin’s death and gained global attention in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder, highlighting systemic racism and inequality worldwide.
Q5. What does “cancel culture” mean?
Cancel culture refers to the public rejection of someone often online for offensive words or actions. While it can hold people accountable, it can also discourage open conversations because people fear backlash for sharing honest opinions or making mistakes.
Q6. What’s the difference between activism and performative activism?
True activism creates real change through consistent action like volunteering or policy work. Performative activism is more about appearances, such as posting slogans online without deeper involvement. One is about impact; the other about image.
About the Author:
Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.