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This is a trend I have been noticing in my very short life (24). When I was a kid, adults patting kids heads/tussling their hair was a common greeting between adults and children. I rarely see that happen much nowadays at all. I'm not saying this is some kind of dark pattern, but just something that I used to see happen a lot not happen all that much anymore.
I think other than cultural shifts, some of it can just be attributed to atomization and less kids being around. Adults just don't come across kids as frequently; Let that be because people are having less kids, having them later, not socialising as much, not hanging out with extended family as much where they would meet little cousins, nieces and nephews, etc. Unfamiliarity breeds awkwardness (and contempt).
Yet another symptom of the social fabric tearing, for those with their eyes open.
I'm not American, not even Western.
But the trend of recent parents being much more protective of their kids seems to be almost universally a millennial thing. I've noticed it in the short time I lived in East coast of the US (suburban NJ), and in other affluent places in the world.
Well, people have a tendency to baby (what have as an emergent property of society become) expensive luxury goods in the general case.
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This, in my experience. It took making one myself to finally learn how to interact with children.
That said, there absolutely are neurotic housewives who spend their days imagining every stranger to be robbers, rapists and kidnappers.
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