Projection and Control in Moral Panics

Moral panics, like the satanic panic, often involve projection, where accusers fear losing control over societal norms. In the case of the satanic panic, there was projection by American fundamentalists who were working to infiltrate government and set standards while accusing Satanists of the same. Modern-day moral panics, such as concerns over children learning about social issues or having access to the internet, reflect a fear of losing patriarchal control. This fear has led to legislation restricting young people's online activities, despite being inaccurately named as measures for kids' safety.