Streisand effect
Suppression amplifies attention
The Streisand effect is when attempting to suppress or hide information inadvertently draws more attention to it than if it had been left alone.
Named after Barbra Streisand, whose 2003 lawsuit to remove aerial photos of her home from a public database backfired spectacularly—the photos went viral.
Their cease-and-desist letter triggered a classic Streisand effect, spreading the story far beyond its original audience.
Unintended negative consequences
- boomerangSelf-returning thrown weapon
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
- unintended consequenceUnexpected outcome of action
miscalculation · self-defeating · rebound · amplification · own goal · misfire · irony · paradox
Forcible prevention or concealment
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- banOfficial restriction on something
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
- gag orderCourt-imposed speech restriction
injunction · takedown notice · DMCA · cease and desist · court order · prior restraint · embargo · blackout
To distribute widely
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- viralSpreading quickly online
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
sharing · retweet · screenshot · archive · mirror site · exposure · visibility · signal boost
blowback
Unintended negative consequences
- boomerangSelf-returning thrown weapon
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
unintended consequence · miscalculation · self-defeating · rebound · amplification · own goal · misfire · irony · paradox · escalation
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- banOfficial restriction on something
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
gag order · injunction · takedown notice · DMCA · cease and desist · court order · prior restraint · embargo · blackout · non-disclosure
spread
To distribute widely
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- viralSpreading quickly online
- social mediaOnline content-sharing platforms
trending · sharing · retweet · screenshot · archive · mirror site · exposure · visibility · signal boost · attention
media attention
Journalistic focus on something
scandal · exposure · fame · notoriety · buzz · public interest · scrutiny · reporting · broadcast · sensation
- censorshipbanned books, censored, banned, book banning, book bans
- Unintended Consequencesbackfire, blowback, backlash, own goal
- consequencesconsequence, consequences, result, results, effect
- free speechfree expression, freedom of speech, protected speech, speech rights, speech protection
Streisand effectmemory hole
Device for erasing history
hushed up · swept under the rug · cover-up · information blackout · media blackout
Streisand effectdying down
Decreasing in force
forgotten · blowing over · flying under the radar · obscurity · natural decay
Streisand effectmisdirection
Intentional focus manipulation
distraction · flooding the zone · decoy effect · smoke screen · red herring