I have seen the changes working with children for over 20 years.
The mass media have a huge impact on parent's over protection of their children.
The media claims, which are untrue, that we live in a society with a rapist, a child abductor and paedophile in every street will no doubtedly have a chilling effect on parenting.
Schools also play a massive role in this by perpetuating this myth.
Every school in Surrey UK where I live have huge 8-10 feet high fences all around the school to prevent unwanted innocent passersby looking at the children playing and more scarily, to prevent those rapists, child abductors and paedophiles living in every street from entering the school grounds.
Children are living in prisons, constantly monitored by CCTV.
The panopticon designs of the buildings and environment.
What does this say to the children living in this protected environment?
It says; this is a very frightening place to be, there are dangerous predators who might abduct you.
No wonder then that children are presenting with acute anxiety disorders.
This is most probably why parents allow their children to have carte blache when it comes to internet access.
When I was a child in the 60's I roamed the streets from morning until night. I went home when I got hungry. Most children I knew had the same experience.
Are there more paedophiles living in the world today compared to 100 years ago? I doubt it.
One very strange phenomenon is that 95% of all child abuse happens in the family home by close family members and not by some stranger lurking in the shadows.