"Despite what society may think, I believe we are more prudish in many ways now than we used to be."
On the other hand, I think there is evidence that "society" (whatever that means), is becoming more accepting of age gaps. I've been to another forum where age gaps of 20-something women with 50-something men are common and where 20s/60s relationships are are sprinkled throughout the forum. I never saw age gaps like that here or at other AG forums I belonged to in the past.
I think the Internet has something to do with that. In the 1980's and early 90's, a small elite group controlled the flow of information to the public. As individuals, we were limited to mail, telephone and word of mouth as our only means of communication, none of which lent themselves to broadcasting to the public, so we rarely got to tell our story. People got their information from TV, radio and newsprint. So, they would read their tabloids, watch their soaps, read magazines like People and watch Oprah on TV, and that was their source of what is "acceptable" behavior and lifestyle choices. If you wrote a letter to a column (such as an advice column or editorial), or were lucky enough to get on a radio or TV talk show, you got to tell your story. But remember that the host or editor controlled the conversation, so the message that got out was whatever they wanted it to be.
Fast forward to the Internet and anyone can upload a video to YouTube, create a group on Facebook, and tell their story to a national or international audience that is independent of "mainstream" media. This opened the door for people with different needs, desires, and lifestyles to express themselves to the public. The result is that more people are exposed to a wider variety of people and lifestyles than ever before. It gives people the ability to accept diversity far more than when "Oprah" was their only source.
Like Abraham Lincoln once said, "You can't believe everything you read on the Internet."