The Dead Internet Theory is a conspiracy theory that claims since around 2016, much of the internet has been dominated not by real human activity, but by bots and AI-generated content. According to the theory, a significant portion of online posts, interactions, and search results are created or manipulated by automated programs, often as part of a coordinated effort by governments or corporations to control information and influence public perception. Key points of the theory include:
- The internet is largely populated by bots and artificial intelligence systems that generate content automatically, rather than by genuine human users.
- Search engines like Google manipulate and curate content in a way that limits real human-generated material, presenting a filtered and artificial version of the web.
- Some proponents believe state actors, especially the U.S. government, are orchestrating this dominance of AI and bot-driven content to gaslight or manipulate populations.
- Evidence cited includes reports showing that over half of web traffic is generated by bots and the prevalence of AI-generated images and automated responses on social media platforms.
- This phenomenon has led to a feeling that the internet is "dead" in the sense of being devoid of authentic human presence and replaced by artificial, algorithm-driven interactions.
The theory has gained attention through online forums, social media discussions, and articles that explore how much of what we see online might actually be fake or artificially created. However, while bot traffic and AI- generated content have undeniably increased, the full scope of the conspiracy claims lacks strong independent verification and is often seen as speculative. Overall, the Dead Internet Theory highlights concerns about the rise of automation and AI on the internet and its impact on genuine human communication and information diversity.
