The shape of the tail of the distribution of human activity is sensitive to many factors which may explain the diversity of opinion as to what is happening.
To start with, human society is very prone to long tails by the fact we are distributed widely and have limited means of communicating and coordinating.
All sorts of inventions, technical and social work on this substratum and produce more or less long lived tail phenomena.
E.g. the internet famously enables the long tail, but then the first page of google effect squashes it. Similarly social media platforms enable cheap and easily accessible dissemination but then algorithmic timelines and virality enhancers intervene to create "winners"
There is a complex interplay between concentration of power, wealth, control and technological capabilities on one side (the left end of the distribution) and the shape of material and information flows on the other (right end of the distribution or long tail).
To start with, human society is very prone to long tails by the fact we are distributed widely and have limited means of communicating and coordinating.
All sorts of inventions, technical and social work on this substratum and produce more or less long lived tail phenomena.
E.g. the internet famously enables the long tail, but then the first page of google effect squashes it. Similarly social media platforms enable cheap and easily accessible dissemination but then algorithmic timelines and virality enhancers intervene to create "winners"
There is a complex interplay between concentration of power, wealth, control and technological capabilities on one side (the left end of the distribution) and the shape of material and information flows on the other (right end of the distribution or long tail).