I see it as a combination of key factors.
-The largest groups don't necessarily speak the loudest voice. Those voices usually come from zealots, hardcore devotees, and fringe elements. Unfortunately, younger generations have been conditioned to equate louder with larger.
-The silent majority grew up with hardships, learning to accept what they couldn't change with a quiet grace. Unfortunately, this acceptance has morphed into a "we've lost, why bother" mindset. Throw in the predators, the most energetic and least ethical of generations brought up to believe that feelings mean everything, and that their feelings mean more than anyone else's. They're accustomed to demanding change simply because it suits their twisted perceptions, and to get their way when they do. Toss it all into a pot where the predators tend to control more widespread sources of information dissemination, that being social media and online news, and you have the appearance that they are the majority.
-This younger generation also tends to be more possession-oriented. They spend every cent they make on "stuff", buying ridiculous quantities of luxury items and non-essentials. Luxury items and non-essentials tend to have very high profit margins. So, you have a big chunk of the population buying high-margin items in large quantities. That draws companies to the demographic like buzzards to a carcass, making them very receptive to their demands even when those demands may not represent a population majority.
Ultimately we end up where we are now. Corporations just go where the dollars lead. Giving in to the loudest voices because the see those voices has having the deepest pockets. Until the silent majority begins to speak up, fight back, use the shrillsters' tactics against them, and generally bitch-slap the corporations with dollar signs, the corporations will continue to capitulate.
TL:DR version... we're f__ked because our politeness, understanding, and economic thrift were weaponized against us by people who don't give a crap about anyone but themselves. Corporations simply followed the money, or at least where they perceive the most money is available. The only way to unf__k it is to adopt the tactics of our enemy and beat them at their own game.
Brad