Why is society so on edge about everything today?

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It seems that everything is taken seriously. Someone always has to find something to be offended about. You can't make a joke or say something without offending someone. I have heard someone who grew up in the 70s say that they would make jokes about shooting up a school and no one took it seriously. If you make a joke about shooting up a school today, you will get reported to the police, investigated, and receive disciplinary action which I guess is reasonable based on all the school shootings we have had in recent years. If you go to Youtube and look at videos from the 70s, 80s, 90s, or any decade in the 20th century, people seemed more laid back and happy. Today, more people are depressed and isolated. If you look at videos of New York in the 70s or any public place during those times, strangers would wave and smile at the camera. If you film a stranger today, they will get angry at you. People seemed to be more chilled and friendly back then and didn't take everything so seriously. People were able to joke around and not get offended by everything. What has changed in our culture over the last 20 or so years that has put people on edge about everything? It is the rise of technology? 9/11? Increase in mass shootings?

Two words; Willful Ignorance.

Nice meme ban-dodger, I completely agree. Also social media has played a huge role in shaping this current society, and I mean that in the worst way possible.

We have a "leader" who constantly stirs the pot.

These days, even slight criticism can be considered bullying.

Its information overload on a collective scale. A side effect of the info age we live in.
They have been saying it for years, we all need to just slow down.

But the demands of economy, and the rapid techno drum beat of media keep us all running around like crazy.
Our perceptions of people have changed, distorted by the drama of the internet and other media.

We can blame politicians if we want to, but really it's about as they say "stopping and smelling the roses".
Do we really need as many fancy toys? or stay on top of that latest tv show/film/game or whatever?

Interesting times we live in to be sure.

Who is easier to manipulate?

A group of people that have been taught and conditioned since childhood to wear their emotions on their sleeve (ie "trigger easily") and rely on media to tell them what they should be angry about or who they should love. Participants of groupthink.

or

A group of people that think critically and regard logic rather than emotion to be the best overall guide in life.

Emotion rules the day. Emotional people are easier to manipulate. That's a fact.

Perhaps it is the whole political correctness social justice zero tolerance thing has gone too far. It's kind of like if you're not in a constant state of feeling upset, offended and outraged, it means you don't care about the world we live in.

I remember a time in which the President only spoke up for truly important stuff, like the possible melt down of a nuclear reactor.

In part, I think, because it is now so easy to find groups of people who are in the same demographic and share extremely similar views. It is the flip-side of the benefits of community spaces like this one. It is very easy now for people to interact only with others who will confirm their existing views of the world and never challenge them. Without the need for compromise and acceptance of dissent, opinions polarise and can very easily become more extreme.

This isn't entirely down to the internet, though that surely is a big factor. For example, here in the UK, the culture of the local pub has been eroded enormously, and many establishments which remain are "themed" to appeal to a particular demographic. So many have closed that many places don't really have a "local" any more. Having customers who were selected mainly by their location meant that it was common that people of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds came together in the same place and had to work out ways to manage their differences to avoid every night turning into a bar brawl. Though I'm not a religious person, I can see how the decline in attendance at places of worship might have the same effect.

Compromise is a skill which takes practice, like any other; my impression is that many people simply don't get enough practice.

People are just too darn sensitive these days...….