A Mirage of Code: The Dead Internet Theory
As a seasoned DevOps engineer from Melbourne, I’ve seen the internet evolve in ways few could’ve imagined. The once vibrant, accessible, and wild expanse of the World Wide Web has morphed into something different; something, according to the Dead Internet Theory, that’s disturbingly artificial.
The Dead Internet Theory suggests that the internet we see today is a pale imitation of its former self. It posits that most of the internet is now a synthetic construct controlled by artificial intelligence and paid media influencers. This theory, collated by Illuminati Pirate and many others, argues that the internet has been harnessed to fabricate consumers and manipulate public opinion.
During the early days of the internet, people flocked online to share their passions, hobbies, feelings, and thoughts without filters. There were no algorithms to dictate what you saw nor echo chambers to entrench your beliefs. This was when the internet was a treasure trove of human thought, right or wrong. Unlike today, it wasn’t about monetisation but exploration and self-expression. It was the Wild West of information, and we only realised what we had once it was taken from us.
Today, the internet feels eerily empty. It’s as if we are visiting the same ten websites or apps, an endless loop of duplicate threads, pictures, and repetitive replies. This sterilised landscape feels like a series of hollow husks devoid of the vibrancy and diversity it once had.
The theory also suggests that bots and algorithms now manipulate the discourse online. If a narrative doesn’t align with a particular agenda, it’s suppressed, shadow-banned, or drowned out by a swarm of repetitive bot responses. A chilling level of control and manipulation has replaced the internet’s promise of free expression.
Predictions from experts such as Timothy Shoop of the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies lend credibility to the Dead Internet Theory. Shoop predicts that by 2025 to 2026, nearly 99% of the internet’s content will be generated by artificial intelligence. The advent of AI, like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, has proven the capability of machines to mimic human conversation authentically and realistically, adding further fuel to this theory.
The power of these AI bots to flood the internet with artificial voices can create a false consensus, a manipulated perspective appearing as the majority’s voice. This artificial army can circumvent the traditional human process of persuasion, making the entire system susceptible to corruption and manipulation.
Reflecting on the past, the working class relied on information from the rich and powerful. People often fought against what they could see and feared what they didn’t know. Propaganda and control were in the hands of those who held power. But the internet changed the dynamics of information dissemination, allowing people to seek, share, and discuss information freely. It was a refreshing breath of freedom, but breath is now being stifled.
The internet allowed a small-town teen to find like-minded friends worldwide, a sports fanatic to debate with others, and two people from different lands to share life experiences. But as the Dead Internet Theory suggests, this vibrant mosaic of interaction and learning is now fading into a monochrome backdrop controlled by algorithms and bots.
The old internet was a time of unprecedented human advancement. But now, this once free and open space has become a controlled, artificial environment. The Dead Internet Theory paints a grim picture but is a wake-up call. It’s a call to reclaim the internet’s original ethos: a place for genuine human connection and free expression.
