current of the times; trend of the world
A somewhat literary phrase referring to the prevailing social or cultural trends of a particular era.
It is difficult to go against the current of the times.
Compound of 世 (yo, 'world, society') + の (no, possessive particle) + 風潮 (fūchō, 'wind and tide; trend'). The term 風潮 itself is a metaphorical extension from natural phenomena to social currents.