The news media and social media, especially the large popular ones, are de facto propaganda arms for the powers that be. The set the agenda by appealing to authority, fears, and prejudices mixed with a bit of classical conditioning.
Now that they have a tight grip of control over their audience, they keep people from learning any other narrative by telling people exactly what to think and do. Being intentionally vague, using lies, and deception to keep audiences ignorant of any other possible narrative
Just in case one of them falls off the bandwagon and takes a peek at any other source of information then social pressures are applied like demonizing the perceived enemy, making guilty by association, and fear of ostracization.
Yes, corporations and other entities are absolutely colluding to control information by silencing dissenting voices. Modern USA is a giant propaganda machine and it's much much larger than just corporations and the media. It's information warfare.