What individual and/or societal value or harm is there in reading scary Fairy Tales to young children?

While similar scary fairy tales have apparently been shared with young children from different cultures around the world "forever", back in the 1980's when my kids were little, I conscientiously followed the advice of parenting "experts" who recommended parents read The Christian Mother Goose to their children rather than the original, which they said was sure to frighten and by extension somehow scar young children for life! As I recall TCMG was a kindler, gentler, non-violent, politically correct and MUCH less scary version of the clic I was read as a child. Although my kids were "spared" the fear they might have felt in reaction to the traditional Mother Goose etc they were also exposed / influenced by all the Disney clics plus other stories /tales such as The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Harry Potter etc. In the 20 years since, I believe subsequent research reportedly discredited the theory and I ume parents were once again urged to deliberately expose their children to frightening fairy tales! . I'm curious to know which educational / psychological school of thought is currently in vogue and whether there is credible research to back either camp. THANKS!