Exactly. I think the OP takes a wrong turn in thinking "meaning" arises in relationship to "society", and declaring that "meaning is a game." Society is a game. As people grow up and find their own individual meaning in their pursuits and relationships, they stop caring so much about society and may sign out of the game completely.

The majority of people over 40 are not out there "making meaning" (the author's terminology for "influencing pop culture"), and that's just fine.