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‘We had the same moral panic about TV’ is a common refrain when people bring up social media, but like, in terms of social-political impacts, it’s hard to not see the ‘moral panic’ about TV as at least partially vindicated! A reality TV star is president! He’s filling his admin with Fox News hosts!

Remain In Hell Without Despair

@daphnelawless.com

With respect, this misses the point. The moral panic about TV was about how it imposes a single consensus reality on everyone. Exactly what the people who are morally panicing about social media WANT TO BRING BACK.

11/5/25, 7:29 pm2 reposts24 likes

Undafiend|Foundation

@undafiend.com

13 May 2025

that wasn't 'the' moral panic, there were separate panics about - crime shows making kids crimey - cartoons making kids dumb - drugs/smoking/alcohol/genl crassness - reality tv exploiting ppl - reality tv making talentless ppl famous - gay sex and just sexy sex - & more most wrong, some right

Lenoxus

@lenoxus.bsky.social

11 May 2025

That was one panic, but there was also a panic about it making people less intelligent by plugging them into constant instantly-gratifying stimulation