Is the Internet Really Dead?
Believe it or not, in a society like ours right now, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), there is a phenomenon referred to as the dead internet theory. This applies that a significant amount of social media content is fake. And that one day, the whole internet will be filled with fake accounts or of real people's content that have passed, hence the name, dead internet theory. It said that this occurs due to social media platforms using algorithms and machine learning to curate content, drive engagement, and maximize advertising. Not only that, many of these accounts that engage with content also appear to be managed by artificial intelligence agents, which creates a vicious cycle of artificial engagement, one that has no clear agenda and no longer involves humans at all.
The famous example of the dead internet theory is “shrimp Jesus” on Facebook. You may encounter several images of AI generated shrimp meshed in various forms with a stereotypical image of Jesus. This is a light-hearted and funny example of how the dead internet theory presents itself. However, there are harmful outcomes.
AI content often can spread misinformation and or take over authentic human writing, making it hard to find credible sources. Even more concerning is using AI as a replacement to therapeutic practices. There are Cases involving AI chats that have led to teenagers participating in self-injurious behavior. Artificial intelligence may seem harmless on paper but can have seriously negative outcomes.
References:
Prathamesh , M. (2025, January). The dead internet theory: A survey on artificial interactions and the future of social media - ads. SciX Transition Resources. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2025arXiv250200007M/abstract
Comments