Well it may be a trend to have more written content, but I do not see it as disturbing. I don't have to read it, I can just look at the image, if I so desire, or if it is not something that appeals to me, I can ignore the whole thing. So why is it disturbing? It is because it does not fit your way of looking at art or photography or the world? I get it, and maybe it is not disturbing to me because I am not pushing 70, only pushing 60. I try to look at all of it, and find something that is likable and/or enjoyable and to change my view perspective to see what I may be missing.
I think one of the reasons there is more text, is that society today is extremely visual, everything is in your face so to speak. You are pounded with visuals all the time, so maybe the trend is make them more interesting by providing a means of explanation or maybe a way of stimulating the imagination in a way that is not possible with just visuals. The concept of text and writing is fast becoming lost, most youngsters cannot spell with a damn because they are so used to texting and taking shortcuts with words and messages. There is a degree of impatience that is just becoming so pronounced. It seems that few take the time to enjoy, rather they are always trying to be fast and impatient.
So I see the trends now as a fad, to be replaced by other trends and then more old farts will come along and say how it was when they were young, "oh we had it rough then, the youth of today just don't understand....." (humor-vague reference to MP skit). Maybe as we get older we fear change more, maybe it makes us uncomfortable, outside of the box we have drawn and chosen to live inside.
I see it not as good and bad, just something different, and we are able to choose to look or not look, or I guess to criticize it if that is your desire.
Alan
As a side note; interesting how many posters in this thread have very few forum posts. I know my post count is not all that high but I have been here for a long time, just an interesting observation.