My interpretation was that kidnapping people to become dolls was the first step in things going really wrong--and the first wake up call to Adelle/Topher that things were headed in an even worse direction--but what completely destroyed civilization was the phone call programs that Topher invented because that's when EVERYONE got programmed/reprogrammed and total chaos and war broke out.

btw, I shared the statement It's not the apocalypse if the DETAILS aren't right, yo with Sam, and I don't think it's physically possible for either of us to adore you more.