Fox News has a way of exaggerating the stories and purifying them of nuance so they're easy for simple-minded viewers to digest and repeat.
That said, I think the idea is worth exploring. Here is an article on the study. While I doubt Mr. Rogers had anywhere near the influence that is being suggested, the sentiment that he purportedly planted in generations of kids is not a helpful one, except for those who were suffering from major detriment of esteem-boosting in real-life interactions. As Pixar aptly put it, calling everyone special is just another way of saying that nobody is.
I never watched Mr. Rogers, so when it comes to the question whether he actually did push the "you're all special" mantra, I'll defer to anyone familiar with the show.
But like I said, there is merit to discussing the problem, even though Rogers was not the cause.
Damn entitled youth! They love luxury and would rather spend their time chatting and being disrespectful rather than doing something productive! It's all about what is in it for them and not what is best for society!"Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers."
What problem?
And Mr. Roger's take on what he meant by his sign off saying...
"This is what I give. I give an expression of care every day to each child, to help him realize that he is unique. I end each program by saying, 'You've made this day a special day by just your being you. There's no person in the whole world like you."
.
Who brought up luxury and chatter? This is about narcissism and inflated entitlement.
When I was a small child I had nightmares about the his puppet friends.