streisand-effect

The Streisand Effect

The Streisand Effect is a phenomenon where an attempt to hide, remove, or censor information has the unintended consequence of publicizing that information more widely. Named after entertainer Barbra Streisand, whose 2003 legal attempt to suppress photographs of her home inadvertently drew millions of viewers, the concept illustrates how suppression efforts can trigger social reactance-theory. It serves as a key mental model in public relations and digital communications regarding the futility of controlling information in a networked environment.

internet-culture public-relations censorship unintended-consequences psychology information-theory

Antithesis: security-through-obscurity See Also: cobra-effect, reactance-theory version-01