I think technology is more responsible than anything. 30 years ago you had a handful of tv channels to choose from and if you wanted to watch a movie you had to either go see it in theaters, wait and buy it in vhs, wait til it aired on tv or rent it from blockbuster. Now every movie is at your fingertips. If you wanted to watch porn you'd either have to buy a porno mag or buy a XXX VHS. Now you can get unlimited porn in high quality of any variety you want whenever you want. When you left your house in 1991 nobody would bother you - because you didn't have a phone on you all the time. Videogames were mild amusements for children and more people played games socially in the arcades than played alone at home. If you wanted to learn something you'd have to go to the library or hope to find someone who knows their stuff rather than be spoiled with literally all knowledge in your pocket at all times. Etc etc.

You should watch The Century of the Self. Herding crowds is old tech.