Humans have always been performative with those outside of their immediate social circle. Politics is effectively the art of performance, and using it to gain influence and power. With legacy media the general public was still largely on the receiving end of it, but modern technology and social media have given that ability to anyone capable of building an audience. So now performative behavior is everywhere, since we're all competing to get our voice heard, to experience adoration, fame, power, fortune. We're in this weird state where this is all done in digital worlds, where it's easier than ever to fabricate an image, and yet it all ends up affecting the real world in one way or another. Our leaders are celebrities who are good at this game, and not necessarily people worthy of this position.
Honestly, I have little faith we can turn this around. It's going to get much worse before it gets better, if at all.