I disagree. The phenomenon is reactance and people declaring flat-earthers a serious epidemic only made it far more popular. It is assumed that the same happened with vaccination and other topics as well. And people that like freedoms are especially vulnerable, because some start to demand to ban flat-earthers, which certainly creates an understandable reaction because of a vast horizon of implications.

This is a problem with communication, but the medium is irrelevant. That people tend to dislike smart asses is a factor here.

RFK, who is backed by our president elect, is an anti-vaxxer. Our soon to be head of the department of energy doesn’t believe in climate change.

The medium matters a lot. Any idiot can get on a soapbox now. Decentralized communication to the masses like never before.

You can see the spark of populism after each new medium. The printing press, radio, television - all accompanied with a populist movement of their time.