Moral panics are a powerful way to help students understand how society reacts to perceived threats, how media amplifies social concerns, and how deviance is socially constructed. To bring these concepts to life in the classroom, we’ve created a ready-to-use activity based on contemporary moral panics in new media. This activity is designed for A-level or GCSE sociology students and aligns closely with Stanley Cohen’s concepts of folk devils, moral panics, and the deviancy amplification spiral.

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The Activity: What Happened Next? – Contemporary Case Studies

The activity uses five short, contemporary case studies focused on new media, youth, and public reaction:

1. TikTok ‘Devious Lick’ Challenge
2. Momo Challenge Hoax
3. Snapchat Drug Dealing
4. AI and Youth Relationships
5. Online Cancel Culture as Panic

Each case study is approximately 300 words and includes discussion questions designed to prompt students to analyse the social construction of deviance, media exaggeration, and societal response.

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Learning Objectives

By completing this activity, students will be able to:

• Identify folk devils in contemporary contexts.
• Analyse the role of media and social media in amplifying social concerns.
• Apply Cohen’s concept of the deviancy amplification spiral to modern examples.
• Evaluate the difference between actual risk and perceived threat.
• Explore structural and societal factors that contribute to moral panics.

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How to Use These Case Studies in Class

1. Preparation: Print the case studies or provide digital copies. Optionally, include a worksheet for students to record their answers.
2. Introduction: Begin with a short discussion of moral panics and key concepts (folk devils, moral panic, deviancy amplification spiral).
3. Individual or Group Work: Assign one or more case studies to students. Ask them to complete the discussion questions, either individually or in small groups.
4. Class Discussion: After students have analysed the case studies, hold a discussion comparing predictions and highlighting patterns across the examples. Encourage students to relate the scenarios to real-life events they are familiar with.
5. Extension Activity: Ask students to create their own contemporary moral panic scenario, applying Cohen’s concepts and considering how media amplification might escalate concern.

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Tips for Teachers

• Encourage students to differentiate between actual events and media portrayal.
• Highlight the role of adult anxieties, social norms, and generational divides in creating moral panics.
• Use this activity to connect theory with contemporary examples, making abstract concepts like moral panic more tangible and relevant.
• Incorporate visual aids, such as diagrams of the Deviancy Amplification Spiral, to reinforce the concept.

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This activity provides an engaging, contemporary way to explore moral panics, helping students link classic sociological theory to real-world examples in Britain and beyond. By analysing these cases, students gain a deeper understanding of media influence, public perception, and the construction of deviance in the 21st century.

A PDF of the five different case studies is available to download below: