The numbers grew but how much did quality of life increase in the past 20 years in the US? A vast majority of the population are in debt, the middle class has all but disappeared, unprecedented levels of working-but-homeless. But profits dose, hurrah!
I have a magic little rectangle in my pocket that can answer an obscure question, get in contact with someone or order me a pizza faster than the president of the united state could get those things done in 1999.
My car tells me when a tire is low. My oven automatically turns off when it's done baking for a pre-selected time. Etc. Etc.
Sure, all that stuff existed in 1999 but it was rare or primitive. Today even someone living paycheck to paycheck has that standard of living. Technology has come down in cost and permeated our lives resulting in unprecedented convenience. It's the difference between the USSR launching the first satellite once at great expense and a private company flinging a car into space because "well we needed a test payload and why not". All this comes with trade-offs and a learning curve but so does every other bit of progress humanity ever made.