Whether it’s banning books or preventing Macklemore from touring, silencing artists often backfires
A large-scale study of library circulation finds that attempts to censor books often boost their readership.
Rapper Macklemore faced backlash after being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour for performing a pro-Palestinian song, leading to a surge in his popularity. This phenomenon, known as the Streisand effect, demonstrates how attempts to suppress information can actually increase its visibility. The study of book bans in the U.S. reveals that censorship efforts often lead to increased sales and visibility for the banned titles.
In 2021, there were 729 unique attempts to ban books, which grew to 1,269 the following year. When books were banned, their monthly circulation counts increased by an average of 12% over the next six months. This effect was most pronounced for books by lesser-known authors, with each additional ban adding about 2% to circulation.
Even in states without bans, circulation rose by about 11%. The heightened attention generated by book bans, both locally and nationally, resulted in significant social media discussion and increased sales. In a market flooded with over 4 million books published annually, bans serve as a paradoxical solution by putting a spotlight on obscure titles and introducing them to a wider audience.
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