"cancel culture" is a catch-all term for people who call out others for things that are "bad". that much is real. people don't always get "cancelled", but the "call outs" are often geared toward that goal more than they are educating the "offenders" about the behavior, hence it being called such.

it's sometimes a strawman, because the call outs don't always come.

now, on the other side of the fence:

the "culture" that often complains of "cancel culture" or "SJWs" or some other placeholder, are reacting to something being censored, something being criticized, or the like... the actual cancelling/censoring they're complaining about is not coming from those calling out, but from the corporate entities that hold domain over the "called out". and that's where I think their ire should be directed.