A social phenomenon that occurs when an attempt to hide, remove, or censor information has the unintended consequence of further publicizing that information, often via the Internet.
"The Streisand Effect is named after American entertainer Barbra Streisand, whose attempt to suppress photographs of her residence in Malibu, California, inadvertently drew further attention to it in 2003."
by Memento Mori August 07, 2020
when someone decides to ban or censor something, and that attempt to make something go away, makes it even bigger than ever before, or ever planned.
dj danger mouse's gray album in which he remixed the vocals from jay-z's the black album and the beatles white album. when emi sent a cease and desist letter to danger mouse the internet community created an intense distribution campaign
by bigposerhead February 07, 2005
The Streisand effect is a primarily online phenomenon in which an attempt to censor or remove a piece of information has the opposite effect and instead drags attention
Urban Dictionary sucks - said on named site creates The Streisand Effect with lots of thumbs down dragging up the result
by barrust March 27, 2010
When good-intentioned people try to censor hateful content but it only creates a polarized echo chamber that festers and grows.
Timmy: TIMMAH?
Saul: The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but the gates of heaven are opened by the devil's advocate.
Timmy: TIMMEH.
Saul: Yes, Timmy, it seems that we need to rename the barbara Streisand effect since she was trying so hard to have the last laugh, she has allowed hate to grow in the shadows and become a monster now, the Barbaric Streisand Effect.
Timmy: TIMMAAAAAH!!!
Saul: Just another example of cyberphunkisms
Saul: The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but the gates of heaven are opened by the devil's advocate.
Timmy: TIMMEH.
Saul: Yes, Timmy, it seems that we need to rename the barbara Streisand effect since she was trying so hard to have the last laugh, she has allowed hate to grow in the shadows and become a monster now, the Barbaric Streisand Effect.
Timmy: TIMMAAAAAH!!!
Saul: Just another example of cyberphunkisms
by cyberphunkisms December 15, 2022
A Hyperbolic, yet sadly real, escalation of the original Streisand Effect, where relentless and disproportionate attempts to suppress, deny, or draw attention to a trivial or non-issue that not only fails but catastrophically backfires. Repeatedly.
Key components include:
1) Compounding Backfire
2) Self-Destructive Persistence
3) Total Reputation Collapse
4) Terminal Irony
1) Compounding Backfire-
Unlike the classic Streisand Effect where suppression attempts once amplify attention, the Jason-Streisand Effect involves multiple rounds of doubling (or sextupling) down, each time worsening the backlash exponentially.
2) Self-Destructive Persistence-
The Streisand-er refuses to course-correct, despite pleas and obvious chances to do so, instead escalating their efforts (Legal threats, Public denials, or aggressive PR moves) despite clear signs of mounting damage.
3) Total Reputation Collapse-
What started as a minor issue or even a misunderstanding or mistake snowballs into universal condemnation, turning even neutral observers into detractors.
4) Terminal Irony-
The harder the Streisand-er fights, the more absurd and meme-worthy their efforts become, fueling further ridicule and scrutiny.
Key components include:
1) Compounding Backfire
2) Self-Destructive Persistence
3) Total Reputation Collapse
4) Terminal Irony
1) Compounding Backfire-
Unlike the classic Streisand Effect where suppression attempts once amplify attention, the Jason-Streisand Effect involves multiple rounds of doubling (or sextupling) down, each time worsening the backlash exponentially.
2) Self-Destructive Persistence-
The Streisand-er refuses to course-correct, despite pleas and obvious chances to do so, instead escalating their efforts (Legal threats, Public denials, or aggressive PR moves) despite clear signs of mounting damage.
3) Total Reputation Collapse-
What started as a minor issue or even a misunderstanding or mistake snowballs into universal condemnation, turning even neutral observers into detractors.
4) Terminal Irony-
The harder the Streisand-er fights, the more absurd and meme-worthy their efforts become, fueling further ridicule and scrutiny.
Person 1: "What's going on with the Pirate Software Drama?"
Person 2: "After getting caught lying about his raid skills, Pirate Software pulled The Jason-Streisand Effect —deleting VODs, blaming his party, gaslighting his fanbase, and ranting on stream until even his fans called him a fraud."
Person 2: "After getting caught lying about his raid skills, Pirate Software pulled The Jason-Streisand Effect —deleting VODs, blaming his party, gaslighting his fanbase, and ranting on stream until even his fans called him a fraud."
by Deja Who? August 13, 2025