moral panic
What to Say if a Friend Insists '800,000 Children Are Trafficked Each Year'
If someone you’re close to is posting about #SaveOurChildren or spouting other QAnon-inspired propaganda, you might want to step in.
‘Phones Cause Teens to Grow Horns’ Is a Dumb Tech Moral Panic
Some amount of young people may have tiny bones growing from the base of their skulls. But don’t freak out.
We Asked People to Share Their Least Acceptable Opinions
Everyone is secretly a jerk about something.
How Mainstream Emo Made Us Talk About Mental Health
Despite moral panic and tabloid witch hunts, mainstream emo threw a mirror up to what has long been overlooked in society: that kids need help, and they should be taken seriously.
How Chemsex Helps Queer Men Find Their Place in Big Cities
We speak to gay cultural theorist Jamie Hakim about how chemsex is a response to neoliberalism and the alienation of the modern city.
Unpicking the Urban Legend of 'Shag Bands'
Remembering the coloured gel bracelets that somehow got linked to hickeys and blowjobs.
Dungeons & Dragons Is Now Part of the National Toy Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Play welcomed the beloved tabletop game to join its Hall of Fame, which already includes the swing set, Mr. Potato Head, and the Game Boy.
LinkNYC Discovers the Difficulty of Bringing Free Wi-Fi to City Streets
Complaints erupted over people using LinkNYC for extended periods of time, prompting something of a reset for the program.
The World's Most Dangerous Game: Pokémon's Strange History with Moral Panics
For over 20 years, Pokémon has been a scapegoat for crises social, political, and even spiritual.
How Mainstream Emo Made Us Talk About Mental Health
Despite moral panic and tabloid witch hunts, mainstream emo threw a mirror up to what has long been overlooked in society: that kids need help, and they should be taken seriously.
What Exactly Is Responsible for the Death of So Many British Nightclubs?
Examining the reasons almost half of the UK's clubs have closed over the past decade.
Are a Tenth of the UK's 12-Year-Olds Really 'Addicted' to Porn?
A report released this week claimed that a huge number of kids are addicted to pornography. Thing is, porn addiction isn't even a recognized condition.