What's a moral panic?

'A moral panic is a reaction by a group of people based on the false or exaggerated perception that some cultural behavior or group, frequently a minority group or a subculture, is dangerously deviant and poses a menace to society. It has also been more broadly defined as an "episode, condition, person or group of persons" that has in recent times been "defined as a threat to societal values and interests." They are byproducts of controversies that produce arguments and social tension, or aren't easily discussed as some of these moral panics are taboo to many people.
These panics are generally fueled by media coverage or outright propaganda around a social issue, although semi-spontaneous moral panics do occur.'

Source: Wikipedia
To read more on what a moral panic is click the title, 'What's a moral panic'