Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Streisand Effect
Sep 9, 2020
Discover the fascinating concept behind the Streisand Effect, where attempts to suppress information often backfire and amplify it instead. Learn how a celebrity's lawsuit increased interest in a hidden photograph, exploring the psychology of censorship. Join a light-hearted discussion on parental challenges with sensitive topics and the risks of drawing attention to them. Dive into historical cases where legal actions against critics only fueled public scrutiny, revealing the complexities and unintended consequences of censorship.
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Streisand Effect Origin
- In 2003, Barbara Streisand sued photographer Kenneth Adelman for $50 million to remove a photo of her Malibu estate.
- The photo was part of an erosion project and had only been downloaded six times before the lawsuit.
The Streisand Effect in Action
- After the lawsuit, Streisand's photo was downloaded almost half a million times.
- This incident led to the term "Streisand Effect", coined by blogger Michael Masnick.
China's Censorship Backfires
- A 2018 Chinese study showed attempts to censor social media backfired.
- Blocking sites like Facebook and Twitter led to increased VPN downloads, demonstrating the forbidden fruit effect.