Streisand effect

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The Streisand effect is the phenomenon where an attempt to hide or remove a piece of information inadvertently results in the propagation of it, to more widespread levels, than had it not been hidden. It was named after Barbra Streisand, an entertainer, who tried to censor images of her Malibu mansion, only to have reporting on those efforts draw mass attention to a story that had previously been obscure.

According to the International Journal of Communication:

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Barbra Streisand’s attempt to restrict online views of her residence on a public website had the paradoxical effect of leading to many more views than if she had done nothing. Subsequently, attempts at censorship that end up being counterproductive have been dubbed the “Streisand effect.” To better understand the dynamics of the Streisand effect, we examine five tactics used by censors to reduce outrage from their actions: (1) hiding the existence of censorship; (2) devaluing targets of censorship; (3) reinterpreting actions by lying, minimizing consequences, blaming others, and using benign framing; (4) using official channels to give an appearance of justice; and (5) intimidating opponents. Within this framework, the Streisand effect can be understood as a special outcome of censorship attempts, one in which the methods used to reduce outrage did not succeed.[1]

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References[edit]

1. ↑ Streisand effect, International Journal of Communication