Describing the Process of the Mexican Cyber-Moral Panic in the United States

In this paper, the authors introduce the "Mexican cyber-moral panic" concept. Through a qualitative content analysis of a subsample taken from 170 anti-immigrant websites, the authors also examine the internet’s role in the moral panic movement against Mexican Immigrants. Empirical evidence supports the argument that a Mexican cyber-moral panic has been reached in the U.S. and allows a theoretical extension of current moral panic formulation in the form of “a<br>call for civil action” where donations and direct civil and political participation take place during the moral panic creation process. Additionally, a “Recycling Factory in Cyberspace” concept is introduced where reports, claims, and accusations about “folk devils” are created by a limited number of organizations and recycled via cyberspace.