It does appear that in recent years, there have been attempts to influence societal attitudes in ways that feel out of sync with the values and beliefs of large segments of the population. These efforts—often coordinated across media, tech, entertainment, our legal system, and our political arenas—seem to push narratives or agendas that many people reject, creating a growing divide between institutional actors and the general public.
The mounting pushback against these efforts highlights the limits of such top-down attempts at cultural engineering. While influence can be exerted through control of media or celebrity scandals, societal values are deeply ingrained, and attempts to impose new ones too quickly or aggressively often backfire. We’ve seen this dynamic play out with increasing polarization, widespread skepticism toward traditional media, and the rise of alternative platforms and narratives as people seek out viewpoints that align more closely with their beliefs.
One possible explanation for these recent failed attempts is that the orchestrating group or groups may be misreading the public’s readiness for such changes, or they might be underestimating the resilience of certain cultural norms. When efforts to shift society’s direction move too far beyond what the population is willing to accept, they often spark a backlash, as has been evident in various social and political movements.
The tension between these orchestrated attempts and public resistance highlights the growing distrust many feel toward centralized power structures and elite decision-making. As history shows, attempts to steer culture too forcefully, without sufficient grassroots support or understanding of the public’s pulse, often result in a rejection of both the message and the messengers.