In the postwar era, the introduction of television sparked a global moral panic, with fears that the new medium was causing addiction and negatively influencing young people. The panic was fueled by widespread fears about the impact of television on children's behavior, attention spans, and moral development. Despite the opposition, television became a dominant force in popular culture, and the panic eventually subsided.

The television panic has been cited in literary and cultural studies as an example of the recurring fear of new media and its supposed corrupting influence on young people. The event has inspired writers to explore the dynamics of fear and the role of media in shaping public perception, and it has been used as a backdrop for works that critique the influence of television on society. It also serves as a precursor to later panics about the internet and social media.