I think the coarsening of our culture was begun when large scale nurseries became common. Children end up teaching each other how to interact with other humans, rather than learning from an adult how to interact. That can't help but being a bad thing.
I think you are very right here. And from the nurseries, children further their social skills from television and Hollywood. During my career I have had many co-workers and supervisors whose odd behaviors could easily be cast in Seinfeld. And it is getting worse. Few younger Americans have any significant social skills. They deal with others like they are on a series of Law and Order.
Yep. Lord of the Flies.