In the late 1990s, a global panic erupted over the Y2K bug, the fear that computers would malfunction on January 1, 2000, because of a programming flaw that represented years with two digits. The panic led to widespread preparation, including the updating of computer systems and the stockpiling of supplies, but when the new year arrived, the feared disasters did not materialize. The Y2K bug panic is a classic example of how technological anxiety can lead to mass hysteria.

The Y2K bug panic has been the subject of numerous poems, stories, and works of creative nonfiction that explore the intersection of technology, fear, and the millennium. The event has inspired writers to examine the psychology of fear and the role of media in shaping public perception, and it has been used as a backdrop for works that critique the culture of doom. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass delusion and the importance of critical thinking.