I agree, they want people to think they have total control - they don't. If they did they would have no need for manipulation, propaganda and lies. They would just shut it down, stamp it out etc.
We take away their power by stop feeding them, as much as possible don't use their systems. Don't listen to their lies.
Something I've repeatedly confirmed is that the syntax of "Power corrupts when it isn't absolute". The strong doesn't want to crush the competition but those who are good but not great and insecure turns out to be vile and disgusting like the antagonists from Ayn Rand's Fountainhead. Even at school those nerds who study months for exams were mostly back stabbing bunch of fakers. There were me and very few other friends who barely studied and always were willing to help while getting excellent grades.
Worst of all was that those dumb nerds didn't even believe me when I said no I haven't opened a book. They were so used to lying and that was all they were expecting from anyone who succeed. Even look at the gamergate incident: https://steemit.com/news/@suitablybored/remember-those-anti-gamergate-journalists-and-how-they-slandered-gamers-accusing-them-of-racism-homophobia-and-misogynistic
It's the stupid conspiracy theorists that blow things out of proportion.