Mainstream news is as bad as the social media rumor mill, just in different ways. The MSM has problems with groupthink and huge blind spots which can lead people astray, but it’s wrapped in a presentable package, so average people are more likely to trust it blindly. Alt media tends to either be BS propaganda, or highly competent in one very specific domain (occasionally venturing out of that area, to its own detriment), but it’s very difficult to discern which it is based on appearances or even quality of writing.

The only solution for a thinking person is to read widely and synthesize all your knowledge into a slightly more accurate picture of the whole.

Social media and fringe alt media can be bad for people with cognitive issues, but that’s not a reason to get rid of them.

(Note, there are many times when both the MSM and most of the alt media present a distorted picture! I would argue the ongoing Iran crisis is one of those times.)