I don't know if you overplayed it, or if if you were dumb.

You had in the past done some terrible things, you agree.

The internet these days tries to utterly destroy people for having in the past done terrible things, with no way out.

This does not in fact make it less likely for people to do terrible things; it does make it less likely for them to admit to them (even to themselves), to apologize to those who have hurt, or to do what those they have hurt need for repair and redress.

So, that's not great, all around, it's true. It's a problem. This response does not actually reduce harm, it just further treats people as disposable.

But if, say, the people you had hurt needed/wanted to hear you say it like that publicly? Then you did the right thing, you didn't do a dumb thing. You owed it to them regardless of consequences, because of the harm you caused. And I respect it. And I think you can feel good about owning up to the terrible things you did, instead of feeling dumb about it, it's the right thing to have done -- which doesn't mean you have to think "the internets" (or your friends :( ) response to you was appropriate.

I'm glad you are figuring out a way out of the hole, and I'm glad you have figured out how to stop treating people like you did in your youth. I respect the way you tell the story without trying to excuse or escape the harm you caused in your youth.

your mistake was apologizing and playing into the game at all. Extracting an apology from the accused is part of the cancellation process. Now they don't have to justify at all - they can point to your own admissions and say 'see even he agrees he's a sexual predator'. Now you can be blamed for your own cancellation, so any action against you is permissable. You admitted to 'preying' on women. You gave them an excuse that will never die.

The mob is never satisfied. The mob will never accept an apology. The mob will never stop.

You can never address a mob. They are only chasing you, or you're part of them. The target of the mob is dehumanized and blamed for their own persecution. That's you.