The 1980s Moral Panic and Child Safety

This chapter explores the societal fears surrounding child safety during the 1980s, examining campaigns like 'stranger danger' and their impact on public perception. The speakers discuss the discrepancies between media portrayals of abduction risks and actual statistics, revealing how exaggerated fears shaped parenting and societal norms. By highlighting the significant decline in child abduction rates since the 90s, the chapter critiques the moral panics that often overshadow the real dangers children face.