Lisa Irving 11:32, 10 Oct 2005 (EST)
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Moral panic is a “morally sensitive�? idea or social occurance, sometimes described as “deviant behaviour,�? that is in opposition to the traditional ideologies of established societies and hierarchies. Moral panic occurs when there are manifestations of bahaviour that are markedly difference from accepted social behaviour and values.
The mass media are a large contributor to particular moral panics developing to a state of public hysteria, due to the high intensity of exposure that some issues receive. For example, the manner in which Hurricane Katrina in the United States in August of 2005 was handled by the US government caused international media outrage, with controversial stories surrounding the event covering almost every page of daily newspapers.
The media has the power to embellish a moral panic so that the panic becomes an unwarranted part of the public agenda, and can lead to mass hysteria, in extreme cases. Sometimes, however, the mass media can open up the way for discussion of what could be an important public issue, which could stem from a moral panic.
Online Dating - Stigma of Online Dating
Online Dating - Online Etiquette
