These kinds of things have always happened – it’s just that they happen more often now.
I agree there’s no single solution. Most children grow up wanting to be reasonably good, even if they want to kick against the system a bit sometimes. Then there are those who like to push the boundaries. Among them, most boys and probably all girls would be deterred by the possibility of harsh corporal punishment. That would leave a small minority of bad boys, the sort now labelled as ADHD, who would not be deterred by the thought of corporal punishment. I remember a boy at school who was always getting whacked and hit by teachers yet it made no difference to his behaviour.
Nature and nurture both play a part. I knew another guy who had a good job, a good education and came from a ‘good’ family and yet he still went out with the intention of getting drunk and picking a fight as entertainment.