Welcome to Steemit, @jonesmacro! Have confidence and write on Steemit about everything you like or dislike.
As to your point 1:
People in this modern age are quite lonely and on social media they think they can feel safe, so they write on social media what they think and what's bothering them and they know that they get some kind of approval. Instead of talking to humans, i.e. friends, neighbours who might not give them approval.
Your point 2:
We don't need all this. It's voluntary and appeals to lonely people.
Your point 3:
Yes, everything in this world has been manipulated by the more powerful.
Your point 4:
Generally lazy people give power to the more active people. Nowadays they might be called opinion makers or politicians, or other so called professions when the masses believe that those professional people know best and can guide them. Obviously this is also not necessary, but lazy people like it that way, so they empower the active ones.
Hope to see you around, I'm following you!