Cohen's Moral Panic is when a condition, episode, or groups of people which are a threat to society. Normally it's people in power who say what is threat - people like politicians, bishops, and the media. The theory says we take groups, like MPs and immigrants and turn into villains in the media. The media then will turn these groups into "folk devils" which makes people want the government to control these groups. In the UK, the BBFC classifies movies, as movies are evil in the media - e.g. certificates, 12, 15, 18 etc. (and MPAA in the United States).
Folk devils only appear when the ruling class are in trouble. E.g, when the country was falling into bankruptcy, the media decided to focus on benefit cheats, and the MPs expenses scandal. Below are examples of 'folk devils' in different periods in British history.
Victorian Britain > Musicals > Immorality
100 Years Ago > Football > Hooliganism
1890 > Bicycles > Cause of Chaos and Terror
1950's > Rock 'n' Roll > the 'Negro's Revenge', 'Devil's Music'
198o's > Video Nasties > Home Videos
1990's > Video Games > games like Grand Theft Auto encourage violence and crime
2000's > Internet > Social Networking
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