Online Dating - Moral Panic

Gem Bosworth 18:56, 16 Sep 2004 (EST)

Contents 1 What is Moral Panic? 2 Examples of Moral Panics 3 Related Wiki Links 4 References

What is Moral Panic?

Moral Panics stem from specific moral groups within mainstream society and cultural factors that consider the event,information or new trend to be of " morally sensitive" nature. Meaning that the idea,trend or event challenges the traditional thinking and makes changes to 'their' accepted values. These activities are usually called 'deviant behaviour'

The mass media are usually the vehicles for the intensity of the activities or trends by magnifing the issue beyond the control of the public causing moral panic when unable to be controlled.

It can be described less threatening as a subculture that identifies a problem or issue in society and actively voices their opinions causing the media to voice the issue and embelish the issue for attention in the media. It then becomes a moral panic in society and has unwarranted attention and panic.

The youth subculture is a part of society that often is a concern for moral panic due to their erratic behaviour and language. Moral panics due to language and the use of it cause society and hence the media concern. The issue of language is that youth has replaced the english language with a language of its own and is not understood by other generations and therefore is morally wrong or disrespectful. This is enevitable with generations challenging society, technology and the norms.

Other phenomenons that occur with moral panics is the rumours that spread of the deviant behaviour that becomes a urban myth or legend. Numerous movies have been made on this notion of urban myths and depict moral panic within a society of something that is evil,deviant or morally bad behaviour.

The outcome of moral panics is usually counteracted by some degree of resistance and mob attacks or protests. It is infected by the media as a moral panic and society acts often defensively against their values with violence and active protests to protect their beliefs. This can be found in a variety of different examples of past and present moral panics listed below.

Examples of Moral Panics

• In the past, the most noted moral panic was the introduction of the Mods and Rockers in the 1960's between two youth gangs. Society introduced the concept of the moral panic in the 1960's due to this gang and the British youth. The moral panic concentrated on this subculture declaring it morally distasteful and the mass media heightened the hysteria.

• More recently, moral panics have been concerned with pedophiles and the increasing media appearances in Australia particularly. This moral panic is linked directly with the use of technology and online dating being readily available to the children accessing the Internet.

• Bullying in schools is another moral panic that society,academics and the media are expressing their distaste at the 'morally sensitive' nature of bullying.

• America's War on Terror and gay marriages are moral panics to the American public due to the sheer fear injected into society as issues that affect the American way of life and 'their' values. This is predominantly the older generations fear as both are new-age issues that have arised in the last two decades. The American political system has also supported this moral panic with the propaganda supporting the traditional values that are being challenged.

Related Wiki Links

Moral Panics and the Internet

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References

Moral Panic Notes. http://www.mediaknowall.com/violence/moralpanicnotes.html