Using kanji vs. katakana for modern terminology?

I just learned that the prefix "cyber" is 電腦. Its literal translation is "electric brain", which makes it way cooler than its katakana equivalent サイバー.

Japanese media tends to use the kanji version over the katakana. Its a relatively modern word, so how/why did the kanji fall into favor? Does this happen a lot with other words? Is it a pop culture thing?

by DeHussey