It says that communication puts everything in a spotlight now. There are far fewer killngs in the U.S. per capita than there were 50 years ago. People simply disappeared back then, never to be heard from again, children and adults. It is so much safer now than it was in the '60's and early 70's when Manson was doing his thing. New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and most police departments were incredibly corrupt through graft, while so many politicians were evil on a par with Cheney or worse.
Today, most streets are safe to walk down, but that wasn't even close to the case 50 years ago.