Moral panic is a common reaction to new forms of communication. The advent of television spawned fears of mass idiotization. Similarly, in the early 90s, critics held the diffusion of Internet as evidence of individuals’ increasing alienation from society and public life.

Here’s a test. Read the quote and guess what they are talking about.

“This is a new, hard test of our wisdom. The emergent medium’s easy access to knowledge would either enrich or impoverish its users, manufacturing an informed public, vibrant and active - or an indolent audience, domesticated and passive.”

Nope, Rudolf Arnheim is talking about television (1932)

“The young generation’s addiction to this new fenomenon results in students who are incapable of higher thinking, without powers of reason, and lacking the social perspective which all good citizens must posess.”

Nope, Bloom is talking about popular music in 1987.

“In addition, greater use was found to be related to an increase in reported loneliness and depression.”

Kraut et al. is talking about the internet indeed (1998)

“An uncontrolled medium where rumormongers, pedophiles, prostitutes, and criminals could go about their business with impunity”

Miss France also speaking about the internet (2001)