In the 1980s and 1990s, the United States was swept by a moral panic over day-care centers, with accusations of Satanic ritual abuse and child sexual abuse. The panic, which was fueled by sensationalist media coverage and dubious recovered-memory therapy, led to numerous false accusations, the closure of day-care centers, and the imprisonment of innocent people. The day-care sex-abuse hysteria is one of the most famous examples of mass delusion in modern history.

The day-care sex-abuse hysteria has been the subject of numerous literary works that explore the dynamics of fear, false memory, and the power of suggestion. The event has inspired writers to examine the psychology of mass delusion and the role of media in spreading misinformation, and it has been used as a backdrop for works that critique the criminal justice system. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of moral panic and the importance of due process.