As everyone loves to point out here, there are so many options to escape the stuff you don't like. I'm in my 40s too, and although I gripe about ads and dark patterns occasionally, I actively work on eliminating those things from my digital life. As a result I'm generally happy with the state of tech. There's very little unpleasantness that I really can't escape from. I've debloated windows, run a good ad blocker, use LLMs to filter the garbage out of HN and reddit, avoid social media apps, use LLMs to set up my local-first homelab and mod games to my liking, etc.

There's a few ways to go here. 1) (vast majority of people) don't even notice what's going on and generally fine with things. 2) notice, and sink into negativity and helplessness. 3) notice, and actively weed out the garbage.