Broadely , I would attribute it to things getting worse. And the increased awareness and reaction to things getting worse.
Sliding it neatly in with the rest of the modern pantheon of stories where, they don’t contest things are bad. It’s just that the villains want to solve the problems in a way that’s worse.
Batman in 2024 is full on the bad guy imo. How much good he could do for the city through his fortune and company. He could set up education programs, become a politician and help pass and fund real change. Instead he rather put on armor worth more than most homes, and beats the shit out of low income henchmen who probably keep working for these villains cause they can’t get a job elsewhere. Also Batman is a pussy and indirectly responsible for murder for letting all those villains live, as per peacemaker.