In the western world, few people come to this conclusion, because it is well hidden.
I'm not sure if it's well hidden. It seems more like cults form around ideas. It's right there out in the open but the people sucked in don't notice.
You mentioned here at the end we're in the cult of those who automatically dismiss the mainstream media. I observed the alternative media chanting those ideas, nonstop, for many years. I observed their followings then repeat it, for many years. As I wrote, I feel the social media, mainstream media, alternative media is all the same. It's all bullshit. Bullshit is an artform.