One of many factors. Another is the dissolution of community and intimate time spent with other people (especially outside one's demographic) leading to what is basically insanity: thoughts and behaviors with no external "sanity check" or stop-gap (like an older more mature person mentoring a younger one to correct maladaptive thoughts and behaviors or even to just protect them from the onslaught of bad-faith actors).
Those older are also to blame for not taking a greater part in preventing this; but seeing as it's so widespread, there are most likely more systemic, societal-wide issues at play.
decline of third spaces due to suburbanization, urban decay, and decline of religious participation.
Of course, it's going to get muchmuch worse due to COVID. I wouldn't be surprised if the change in death rate due to the COVID lockdowns (which drives kids to screens to an even greater degree than anything here) dwarves the number of seniors lost to COVID itself.
At the end of the day, I think time will vindicate the anti-lockdowners and indict those calling for strict lockdowns. It's a major social contagion, and I don't think one we can easily stop.
Lockdowns have completely stunted the emotional and social growth of the young -- making worse the effects of constant connectivity to the internet.
Children have always been rowdy, and some would say lacking in manners, but they were always at the very least somewhat connected to their environment and the people that inhabit them.
But this is true for everyone -- like we've all forgotten how to get along and atleast pretend to live in a society.
Those older are also to blame for not taking a greater part in preventing this; but seeing as it's so widespread, there are most likely more systemic, societal-wide issues at play.