My Lord, two posts from you in less than a week, and a book recommendation! The New Year has started off well, indeed.
Personally, I think the reason fact checkers have gained so much power is that we're reluctant to actually make the effort to check the facts ourselves. Much easier to be spoon-fed information, even if it's the wrong kind, sometimes.
As for why some are skeptical to the MSM, I think that's actually a good sign. Seems to me that people aren't trusting these stories is that they're putting two and two together from the things they've actually seen, like why you maybe shouldn't get vaccinated, or why there might be, as you pointed out, ulterior motives in the people doing the reporting. To me, the fact that people are still putting that two and two together signifies that not all is lost in our beautiful world.
I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, but I did think, hmm, if I could get two posts up each week, even simple ones, I might be able to jump-start the old writing habit that's been rusting in the driveway. Thanks for your encouragement--it means the world!
As for the MSM, I agree, most people aren't buying it. It might be because I'm a tobacconist, and our customers tend to be a little more open minded than most (they're not buying the anti-smoking message, at least...) but of the hundreds of people I see every day, I think maybe two have come out in support of the measures our government has taken to deal with this problem. It's funny, because on social media, people can't speak out. And that means when they speak to you face to face, they're pissed off.
It does help, you know. There's a saying in Romanian that basically means appetite comes while eating, and it's appropriate for writing here, I find.
You know, I have noticed this as well. What strikes me about these restrictions is that so many people are taking the "well, if I can do it, then so should you" attitude, which isn't really a very good POV at all, in my opinion. It's either that, or outright criticizing the measures, as you say, but hey, I suppose both are valid coping mechanisms, in their own way.