>these shows have replaced community culture and personal belief systems.
This can be said of the whole internet in its current state as attention sinkhole.
And its highly misguided to think critical thinking abilities have anything to do with taking advantage of ppls weaknesses. Obama, the iPhone, Game of Thrones and Star Wars are using the same mechanics that the Kardashians or Trump are - if you want ppls attention rich/poor/illiterate/educated/religious whatever - you follow the same rule - given them what they want.
And its highly misguided to think critical thinking abilities have anything to do with taking advantage of ppls weaknesses. Obama, the iPhone, Game of Thrones and Star Wars are using the same mechanics that the Kardashians or Trump are - if you want ppls attention rich/poor/illiterate/educated/religious whatever - you follow the same rule - given them what they want.