20 years ago, it was TV (the bad guy), 50 years ago (it was driving), probably 100 years ago it was books.
It seems the pattern is information and better ways it flows. I read an article may years ago that said something along the lines that Americans (from Europe decent) has a tendency to think new technology is the Devils product. Americans have an innate fear of new technology and only the next generation truly start to use it. From my observation, I see this to be mostly true. I grew up with computers, learning BASIC as I had a commidor VIC-20 and an Apple IIe. As I was a teen (mid 80's) and a young adult (early 90's) I knew more people who said "I don't know how to use a computer." Basically, to me they were saying 'computers scare me'.