Because journalism started becoming fear bait. They raised ratings by making people scared to be outside, or think if they let their eyes off their kids for a second, they’ll be taken (even though it’s far more likely they’ll be killed in a car accident, or abused by someone they know).
Less helicopter parenting.
GenX were allowed to be latchkey kids and roam free. Later generations got weird about parenting and safety.
Gen x IS the later generation raising their kids super protectively. And we don’t even know why it turned that way.
Because journalism started becoming fear bait. They raised ratings by making people scared to be outside, or think if they let their eyes off their kids for a second, they’ll be taken (even though it’s far more likely they’ll be killed in a car accident, or abused by someone they know).
Media did it.
There are something like 60 child abductions per year in the United States that aren’t family related.