I don't see the "downfall" narrative in real life. It seems like it's meant to provoke a defensive response from people the same way certain political language does. I, as a stereotypical guy, have more freedom now than ever to do what I want. No doors have been closed on me by recent societal changes.

Yes, maybe cultural attention is elsewhere but that doesn't mean that anything has really changed. In fact the relationships described in this article with kids pulling dangerous pranks on each other sounds more old school than anything I've experienced in my life.