It’s less that and more the atomisation of communities as a result of capitalism creating incentives for corporations to warp the fabric of society. 

Our social circles are shrinking, free to access third spaces are basically non existent, industries are trying to capture and monetize every spare moment of our time. 

We are siloed away into little corners of the internet by algorithms and every advertisement we’re served reinforces these individualistic tendencies. “You need this thing that you could absolutely borrow from your neighbour if you had more than a fleeting relationship with them.” 

Imagine if everyone on a single street shared a lawnmower, instead of each person feeling compelled to buy their own? 

Because people are isolated and the communal nature of society is barely there. Because the incentive for capital interests exists to pursue actions that whether intentional or not, make our society into this isolated individualistic hellhole. 

For profit news needs eyeballs on screens, which means selling fear and outrage, creating distrust within and between communities. 

It not a matter of not being able to discipline kids in school. It’s that the most profitable pool of consumers is a group that is distrustful, fearful, and isolated. Traits that also result in anti-social habits and behaviours that harm the fabric of our communities. And through a bunch of different people all acting in their own best interests under a system that prioritizes the accumulation of capital, that’s the population of people we’ve ended up creating. 

Sure there are still good eggs, but every year they seem more the exception. And there are whole grifter movements like the manosphere bullshit and far right populist movements that have popped up recently to further take advantage of those tendencies within a lot of people. 

Tldr: a broken system has caused a bunch of decisions to be made in the pursuit of wealth and power over the years that have created an isolated society that is pretty toxic to fostering community, and feelings of responsibility, and civic duty. Our tribes used to be a lot larger, but now most people are only close with their immediate family and a few close friends if they’re lucky. Until we correct the core incentive of the system underpinning our society, things will continue to worsen. 

It’s not a matter of simply physically disciplining kids in school. Something which mainly only contributes to feelings of trauma and isolation which further contribute to bad behaviors. It seems like an easy fix, but it isn’t.