The Media's Role in Creating Folk Devils

The media, encompassing traditional news outlets and modern social media platforms, plays a powerful role in shaping public perception. One significant aspect of this influence is the creation of "folk devils" – social groups that are demonized and held responsible for societal ills. This essay will explore the various mechanisms through which the media contributes to this phenomenon, drawing upon sociological studies and contemporary examples.

Bias and Sensationalism in Media Portrayal

Firstly, media content is often controlled by a select group of individuals whose biases can influence the portrayal of certain groups. Young people, for example, are frequently depicted as lazy, entitled, and prone to deviance. This biased representation can be further amplified during a moral panic, a period of heightened social anxiety where the media sensationalizes events and exaggerates the threat posed by the perceived "folk devil."

Stanley Cohen's seminal work, Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972), provides a classic example of this process. Cohen's study of the media coverage surrounding clashes between Mods and Rockers youth subcultures in the 1960s demonstrated how minor scuffles were exaggerated into symbols of widespread social disorder. The media's focus on the most sensational aspects of the events, coupled with the use of inflammatory language, fueled public fear and cemented the image of Mods and Rockers as dangerous deviants.

Labeling and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

The media's tendency to label certain groups can also become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a group is consistently associated with negative traits and behaviors, individuals within that group may internalize these labels and act accordingly. This phenomenon reinforces the initial stereotypes and further solidifies their status as folk devils in the eyes of the public.

Angela McRobbie and Sarah Thornton's work on moral panics surrounding rave culture in the UK (1990s) illustrates this point. The media's relentless focus on drug use and disorder at raves, often exaggerated and decontextualized, created a climate of fear and prejudice. This negative coverage not only demonized rave culture but also potentially influenced the behavior of some attendees, contributing to the very problems the media purported to expose.

Scapegoating and the Digital Age

The media also engages in scapegoating – blaming societal problems on specific groups, often those already marginalized or facing social prejudice. Yogi Naik and Annette Hill's research on the media representation of Muslims after the 9/11 attacks (2000s) provides a stark example. The media's frequent conflation of Islam with terrorism contributed to widespread Islamophobia and the scapegoating of Muslim communities for the actions of a few.

In the digital age, social media has amplified the media's power to create folk devils. The rapid and widespread dissemination of information online allows moral panics to spread like wildfire, transcending geographical boundaries. The echo chamber effect on social media platforms can further reinforce biases and solidify the image of a folk devil in the public consciousness.

Conclusion

The media, through bias, sensationalism, labeling, scapegoating, and the amplification provided by social media, plays a significant role in creating and perpetuating folk devils. From Cohen's Mods and Rockers to contemporary examples like the demonization of certain religious groups, the media's influence on public perception, often fueled by fear and moral panic, cannot be underestimated. As consumers of media, it is essential to critically analyze the information presented and challenge biased or stereotypical representations to avoid perpetuating the harmful cycle of folk devil creation.