Hah, I remember as a kid myself and many of the other boys would sneak out from the neighborhood daily.
I agree with your assessment on the culture of fear, but there is truth to the idea (at least here in the states) that times are more dangerous now. There has been a growing tolerance for insanity and low hanging moral fruit that has produced many sick people. I understand your fear, and would not say it is entirely unjustified.
Yes, I agree with you - times are more dangerous now, evil ideas spread well on the Internet and social media. Probably, many are emboldened to act out their twisted fantasies seeing there are other who share them.