You have to parse the numbers. Much of it is teens running away and eventually coming back. Some do it to get attention. You never hear when it's something like that. Parental obductions are much the same. Women leaving bars with men they don't know is also prevalent.
Much of it is electronics and social media. We've given criminals a straight path to the kids and there is no parental buffer now. The social media also contributes to faster spread of information. People routinely post a missing child alert that's 5 years old and long ago resolved. It just keeps cycling and never goes away.
True abductions aren't as common as some believe. One is too many though.
