I agree with your perspective.
My parents often reminisce about the 70s and 80s, suggesting that those times offered a more appealing way of life compared to the present. While acknowledging that those times had their imperfections, one notable difference is the absence of devices enabling individuals to publicly insult, troll others, or just being a toxic individual on the internet in general. There are moments when I find myself yearning for these times where such digital negativity was non existing. While recognizing the positive advancements that have occurred, it's evident that progress has come at a price, with certain aspects of modern life taking a turn for the worse.
It has become remarkably easy for individuals to adopt a self-important behavior in contemporary times and freely express unfiltered opinions on the internet from behind the safety of a keyboard. After all, who can confront them? However, strip away those keyboards and smartphones, thrust them into face-to-face encounters in real life, and I assure you, they'll fall silent. The present generation seems to have lost the art of genuine conversation. Whether in train stations, buses, or any public setting, everyone is engrossed in their phones. Social decay has become conspicuous, with people seemingly incapable of engaging positively.
The common trend involves demeaning remarks and the pervasive spread of negativity. Sadly, tearing others down seems to be a source of gratification in today's society, a disheartening state of affairs. Regrettably, this trend has persisted for an extended period and is likely to endure as long as the internet and social media keep existing.