MeToo’s reputational‑accumulation problem

Allegations and reputation‑focused strategies can operate as an accumulative enforcement tactic: when individual claims are weak, their political effect comes from piling anecdotes and character‑judgments to produce lasting social and career harm without conventional standards of proof. This dynamic changes incentives for media, institutions and accusers, creating pressure for sensational disclosures and lowering thresholds for public punishment. — Recognizing reputational accumulation as a distinct enforcement mechanism reframes debates about procedural fairness, media responsibility, and where to draw lines between social accountability and vigilante justice.