I think humans tended to do such epic face plants for a lot longer. But these days every idiot and their dog has a smartphone to record everything and an internet connection to share it to the world. You look a lot more silly with your epic face plant if it’s captured in 4K and broadcast to the world.

Random side note: if you want to hear about a rather epic historical face plant there’s a good video on the Erfurt latrine disaster on YouTube.