Safetyism has made society terrified of disagreement
The article discusses the rise of 'safetyism' in society, particularly within educational institutions, which has led to a culture of self-censorship and avoidance of dissenting views. It highlights the negative impact this has on free speech and intellectual debate, suggesting that excessive protection has resulted in increased anxiety and a lack of resilience among young people. The author argues for a cultural shift towards embracing disagreement as a necessary part of healthy discourse.
- ▪Safetyism has created a culture of self-censorship among university faculty, with 42% admitting to avoiding open discussions.
- ▪The level of self-censorship in the US is reportedly four times higher than during the McCarthy era.
- ▪Cases of academics being targeted for their views illustrate the dangers of this conformism in both the US and UK.
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Safetyism has made society terrified of disagreement Protecting people from challenging or dissenting views is doing us real harm. i Picture by: Getty dataLayer.push({ event: 'author', author: "Stefano Gujon" }) Stefano Gujon 27th May 2026 i Picture by: Getty Share Topics Free Speech Identity Politics Want unlimited, ad-free access? Become a spiked supporter. As ‘safe spaces’ on Western university campuses continue to multiply, it has become clear that institutions designed to defend free thought are now breeding grounds for illiberal conformism. Higher education no longer trains students to grapple with dissent. It teaches them to avoid intellectual conflict at all costs. This conformism has not been limited to the lecture hall.
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