Chesterton died in 1936. . . .

. . .so it's probably worse now.

When it comes to anything like a strain on the intellect as such, I think that most modern people are much stupider than those in the age of my father, and probably very much stupider than those in the age of my grandfather. I have reasons for my belief, but it illustrates my point that the modern reader would hardly listen to a long process of reasoning. I believe I could even prove it, if people now were patient enough to listen to proof.

-G.K. Chesterton in All is Grist

And Hilary's written about it more than once.