The World Without a Mask (1934)
scifist.net
scifist.net
There are many ways to explain what is going on right now. One partial explanation that makes sense to me is that whenever a new form of media comes out (Printing press, Radio, Social Media) - our brains are not prepared for it, and the balance of power shifts like gravity has been temporarily cancelled.
Book recommendation: Amanda Ripley "High Conflict"
https://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Not 'bad' really, but it's clear that in this plot the all-to-human morality tale takes precedence over what's actually possible in the physical world.
That one is so common nowadays that I'm waiting for Merriam-Webster to give up and merge the two definitions...