"Does the world today really have difficulty talking to people and where appropriate, flirting and chatting them up?"
Technically: Yes.
If you try to do that on the street, you'll get arrested faster than you can say 'cat'. And flirting is a punishable crime anywhere outside of the internet. At least for a not too attractive male.
Definitely at work or at street. Possibly in a pub too.
So: What's left?
No public places and talking to unknown people in private places isn't usually an option at all as you aren't invited. If you are, there's never any unknown people, at least of opposite sex.
I'd like to know where this talking is happening as I don't see it can happen anywhere (outside of the net) anymore. Or does the commenter still live in 60s and "free sex" -era?