Digital Jedi posted:

For the most part yes. I think a large part of the reason is over the past few decades serial killers became in vogue so to say. They became popular to learn about and see in our TV shows and movies. A reason they aren't as trendy these days I think has to do with time. Mass shootings or terrorist acts are usually a single massive incident that is covered relentlessly for days or weeks. It is also what scares people more thanks to that as well. Most people don't think, these days, that they will be a victim of a serial killer but a mass shooting instead. That isn't always the case. During Son of Sam in New York people were legit terrified. Women would change their hairstyles so they didn't look like the victims of his. Same thing goes The Nightstalker.

For serial killers it takes a long time for them to even get recognize or known to operate at all. Until they are really caught, like the recent Golden State Killer the vast majority of people might not even know a serial killer existed. Once they are caught then people will learn and be interested in it. And to agree with what Henchman of Santa stated. Most of the recognizable names in serial killer history are in jail or dead.

There is going to be another Gacy, Dahmer or even a Ridgway one day and they might even be out there now operating. But until they are caught the media really won't report on it. Unless you are that into true crime and serial killers the general population just doesn't know.