The culture of apology is an extension of the SJW continual outrage.
They can’t debate facts and in fact consider any contradiction with their opinions an assault. If you contradict them once with a contrary view, they may try to convert you with “but I feel” or “we believe”, then devolve to name calling if not physical assault.
The liberal reliance on feelings means that when you say something they disagree with, you’re guilty of offending them and have to apologize for offending them. As if holding a contrary opinion is in and of itself a cultural offense, which to them, it is.
You have to apologize merely for expressing a contrary view, which puts the non-PC person at a social disadvantage - oh, sorry I said something that hurt your feelings, implying even holding the opinion or airing it is wrong. Conversely, it shuts down debate, because you can’t express contrary views because the perpetually offended won’t ever consider it.
To make matters worse, it gives the hysterics the control of the public discussion, ending any and all free speech because it might offend someone. But they make sure the apologies are public, to punish you and hurt your public image as much as to mollify themselves. That is why when SJW is offended, they demand an intense apology of “I’m sorry you’re offended, I WILL NEVER SAY THAT AGAIN, I will go to brainwashing to agree with you so that I show everyone should agree with you”.
It is the liberal emotional basis trumping freedom of speech, freedom of belief and freedom of association. And it is a public relations move, to show that people shouldn’t be allowed to hold public views. We aren’t sending people to the camps yet for expressing non-PC views, but ending your career because someone else managed enough online fanatics to bombard an employer with hate mail or protest is too much for many people.
So you get the apologies, in the hope it doesn’t do everything but kill you.