WW1 - are things any different now?

has humanity learnt to conduct itself more responsibly over the intervening 100 years?

Not according to the news.

However, given that Germany now 'rules' Europe, they learned to achieve that goal in a more peaceful manner ...

There's no British Empire anymore, so that ought to make a difference, except British Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers don't seem to have realised that yet.

Think back to the first Gulf War - George Bush's (senior) coalition of the willing. People, including young people, avidly watched the television footage which was presented as if the war was a video game.Naive in the extreme, I think. Of course, video games have become more sophisticated since then, so the embeds would have to up their game too.

Humanity may have learned something since 1918 but it's clearly not enough.

I don't think our leaders/governments have learned a thing but I also don't believe our young people would jump to join the armed forces as they did in 1914. Or am I naive to think they are more savvy about the implications of war in this day and age of technology.

Judging by what is happening in so many parts of the world now I would say no.