Generation Paranoia: Impact of the Stranger Danger Campaign

The Stranger Danger campaign of the 1970s and 1990s aimed to raise awareness about child abductions but resulted in fear-mongering and a distorted perception of the real risks. Despite claims of hundreds of thousands of abductions by strangers, the majority of child abductions were committed by family members or individuals known to the child. The focus on stranger danger resulted in a lack of attention and resources devoted to addressing the root causes of child abduction and underfunding resources that could have aided in prevention. The bigger impact was on the kids born in the late 1990s and onward. The "stranger danger" era basically created an entire generation of paranoid helicopter parents. The campaign's narrow focus on stranger danger also prevented people from learning about effective measures to prevent child abduction.