Anecdotally it would seem that people are more online in general, albeit episodically with smartphones rather than via desktops and for hours (apart from work). But engaged only passively on scrolling social media. I would agree that intelligent commentary is much less online than it once was. It seems that intelligent people have mostly seceded from society to do their own thing in peace, to whatever extent is possible, over the past 2 decades.
Anecdotally it would seem that people are more online in general, albeit episodically with smartphones rather than via desktops and for hours (apart from work). But engaged only passively on scrolling social media. I would agree that intelligent commentary is much less online than it once was. It seems that intelligent people have mostly seceded from society to do their own thing in peace, to whatever extent is possible, over the past 2 decades.