This is the answer.

The cut throat cancel culture group can be divided into three categories. The people who use it as a tool for control, the people who embrace it as a form of group identity, and the well-meaning folks supporting the above two.

The group identity, dominance fighting group is probably the largest group. The well-meaning folk seem to either graduate up or wash out.

It is. But it isn't necessarily the in-crowd of success. On the contrary, strong indignation often arise from a position of deep insecurity. Maybe the insecurity to lose social status, sure, but there could be any other reason too.

It also was always part of the internet that people pile up on others. What is new is that there are some groups that seem to get a direct endorsement for such behavior from the media landscape.

This.

It was never about race, it was always about politics and power.

If you can shut down your political opponents under the guise of social justice all the better.