Yes kids have to deal with a lot today they didn't just a few generations ago... the bigger problem however isn't the fact that there is just more assaulting them, the larger problem is that parents are doing a far worse job raising them.
How many folks gripe about whats on TV.. yet make sure they have super extended cable with all the extras and premium channels in their homes? And then leave their kids alone hours every day to sit in front of the idiot box?
How many folks do you know think they are good parents, yet their kids have TV's, DVD/VCR,Computers, Telephones in their bedrooms and use them unsupervised??
Parenting is a full time job, and far too many folks are far too libertine and phone it in... and then blame society when their kids wind up in trouble.
Bingo. I know plenty of parents who are like this with their kids, and I'll never understand it. Our kids have computers in their rooms, but no internet access unless I allow it through the wireless router for a specific purpose. I monitor the router logs. Definitely no Instant Messaging. No bedroom TVs or telephones either. MTV, VH1, and BET are all permanently locked-out, and I've got a rating-based password control on all other channels. No "premium" movie channels. On top of all that, we limit their viewing time.
Parents today are either just too damned lazy or self-absorbed to pay attention to what their kids are doing. Then when they get in trouble, they blame it on anything or anyone but themselves. Latch-keying kids is NEVER a good idea, at ANY age.