Whataboutism exists to show fucks like you contradictions in your beliefs, not to excuse what is happening. Opposition is so strong in any capitalist country nowadays, isn't it? Freedom of speech is universal right, until couple of journalists say something too "freespeachy". Sure, making people to vote between two indistinguishable candidates is fine, but when one guy wins throughout the years - FREEDOM IS LOST, AUTHORITARIANISM IS ON THE RISE. Play pretend game of thinking that these two are so different, that one can be called democracy and other is fascistic dystopia is really funny.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS A FUCKING NAZI SLOGAN IN THE FLAIR, HOW VERY DEMOCRATIC.
That's what it academically means.
Real word use its literally just a new word for hypocrisy that in their minds makes rhe hypocrisy thing not count.
Ironically its the same thing as the whole fake news thing. It was originally a literal deffinition but then chuds drove it into the ground until it meant "news I don't like"
Liberals did the same thing and now whataboutism is "a valid point that I don't like"
It really is hilarious they think they're different, let alone better than red Maga.