Moral panic is a term used to describe a widespread feeling of fear, often an irrational one, that some evil person or thing threatens the values, interests, or well-being of a community or society. It is a mass expression of fear and concern over something or someone perceived to threaten the values and norms of society. The concept was first defined in the 1972 book "Folk Devils and Moral Panics" by the British sociologist Stanley Cohen. Key features of moral panic include:

• Moral Entrepreneurs: Those who start the panic after fearing a threat to prevailing social or cultural values.

• Folk Devils: Those who supposedly threaten social order.

• Exaggeration: Claims made during a moral panic "exaggerate the seriousness, extent, typicality and/or inevitability of harm".

Moral panics are now studied in sociology and criminology, media studies, and cultural studies. They are often perpetuated by the news media, most times engaged by politicians, and can result in increased social control. Although the aims, forms, dynamics, and outcomes of moral panics vary throughout history, they have, with isolated exceptions, been initiated by powerful interest groups to manage the bodies and behavior of threatening groups—often, the poor and powerless. Some examples of moral panics can be found in 20th century US history, such as the Red Scare and Palmer raids, which resulted in the arrest of thousands of suspected socialists, communists, and anarchists.