Complexities of a modern society

I have been thinking about why there seems to be greater and greater societal and political extremism.  As the population of the planet has grown ever larger has it become more Balkanized and splintered as people naturally start gravitating towards sub-tribes that make them feel a sense of belonging?  Imagine a society that has 100 people; can they agree to act as a united team, granted with sub-interests, but sufficiently small that they see a need to compromise to get along and move the whole group forward with the hope that on another future issue they will get their way and others will compromise in return - give and take group dynamics. As this group/population grows, it becomes increasingly difficult for everyone to have a say on everything so political parties ie spokesmen develop to speak the will of sub groups - governments are birthed and politicians created to represent the will of their constituents.  One might say this has been the way for eons...what is different now?  I think that until not so long ago, perhaps as late as the 70s or 80s, society and goverment were able to mostly control the conversation. There were only limited paths for information to be shared and govenment or what now  is an ugly term 'the political and financial elite' could more effectively manage the narrative.  Now with the internet, instant news, cheap narrow broadcasting, it's far too simple for everyone to know everything almost instanteneously; more importantly it is ridiculously easy for the most opinionated and motivated to get their message out and for the dissatisfied in society to become a ready audience.  From there the world becomes an increasing echo chamber with those inside becoming convinced that their information is a 'world view' and hence there is no need to compromise as their position is self evidently a 'majority' view. This becomes a perfect vehicle for ambitious self serving megalomaniacs to manipulate the masses/'followers' to amass power, riches and achieve what they want.

The problem is that if the above is true, I am not sure I see a workable way out.  Shutting down or even restricting communications does not seam feasible or even desirable.  Has what the writers of the US constitution come to pass?  Democracy is a great concept, but if everyone has a say, do you create chaos as the unimformed get manipulated by the shamelessly ambitious?