Respectfully, I disagree with you, it's mainly because of social media. Academic degradation definitely contributes (it give conspiracy theorists ammo) but if you've been exposed to the echo chambers that drive anti-science conspiracies I think you'll realise how toxic the movement and social media. Mainstream social media is the gateway and it surfaces these influencers to the curious with less harmful theories like Invermectin then to antivax and homeopathy and mistrust in doctors and traditional drugs.

A lot of these influencers have been deplatformed and flocked to alternatives like centralised telegram groups, social media. Non-conspiracy people treat conspiracy people like outcasts, no one likes arguing with no conclusion when the answers is 'I don't believe your source' so they retreat to these echo chambers for social acceptance. I've seen this happen to people I know, they just doom scroll, share anti-tech, -media, -pharma, -government memes. They become rabid in their beliefs and there is no pulling them out. I've seen this firsthand infect people who are "smart" university educated, career success. It's a shame, part of decent people I know are gone. There is a simmering undercurrent of I'm smart and you're an idiot and its probably felt both ways. I'm not from the US, but I've read accounts of what Fox News does to people and it feels similar.