I think the problem is that social media allows misinformation to fester and spread.
It is easier to spread a lie than the more nuanced truth.
We live in an age where you tubers gain money from the number of views they get....well being a controversial vlogger, an outlier of science.....gets more views than saying "yeah govt scientists are right.
So I don't entirely agree people only have themselves to blame....highly intelligent people are as easily manipulated as intellectually challenged.
Very sadly, these conspiracy theories have led to marriage break ups, friendship break ups.