I was told not to get into a car with strangers since I was 4 and since I'm here, you can do the math on that one. I wouldn't meet a stranger from the internet alone and always bring a friend with me. Once, I had to use Uber when my car broke down on a Sunday and the car rental place wasn't open - go figure. But I lived and the service was good.
I don't thin we're sliding downhill, we're just more cautious of necessity.