Probably a combination of both.  As part of the younger generation (I am 26) I have noticed how different attitudes are now, especially since I came from a family where my parents are close to 10 years older than most kid's parents.  Figure me growing up with a dad born in 1945 Germany vs some kid with more hippie parents.  Also you have the fact that athletes keep getting more and more venerated, such that they aren't held to the same standards. 

But you also have more reporting than you used to, I remember how much crap OSU used to get about its problems and everyone around Columbus used to say if other schools/cities didn't cover things up you would hear about them too.  And guess what slowly but surely you saw more and more schools and cites reporting problems with players.