And I dunno that it can be framed as “media failed these people” so much as, “Social media has offered a lot of people a fantasy land of easy answers and specific, concrete ‘bad guys’; this attracts some people who want to feel less powerless, scared, hopeless, and confused.” UItimately, many have just given up on facts, complexity, and uncertainty. It’s definitely not new to the pandemic, but recent stress, anxiety, and burnout have accelerated/broadened it. (Everywhere, not just in Canada.)

What do do about it, I have no idea, though.