A trenchant critique arguing that contemporary Western culture has adopted a new form of Puritanism — a moral absolutism driven by social media, identity politics and a culture of shaming — which polices language and behaviour, punishes perceived offences and stifles free expression and humor. Drawing on journalism, satire and cultural analysis, it traces how institutions, the arts and academia bend to viral outrage, explores the motives behind moralising fervor, and warns that the spread of censoriousness undermines liberal pluralism and open debate while calling for a return to toleration, nuance and robust free speech.