The Internet is dead and we killed it.
There is a theory that suggests much of today’s online activity is no longer driven by real people, but by bots, automated systems, and coordinated manipulation, making the internet feel “dead” or artificial compared to its early days.
The theory claims that:
- A large portion of online content is generated or amplified by bots, AI, or paid actors.
- Engagement (likes, shares, comments) is often artificially inflated.
- Algorithms prioritize emotionally charged, divisive, or addictive content.
- Genuine human interaction has been crowded out by automation and monetization.
As a result, the internet appears active on the surface but lacks authentic human presence.
While claims that the majority of online users are bots or that all digital narratives are controlled remain unproven, several underlying phenomena are well documented:
Major social platforms host large numbers of automated and fake accounts, coordinated influence campaigns are an established reality,
engagement-optimizing algorithms routinely prioritize attention over accuracy or well-being, and the volume of so called AI slop continues to grow rapidly.
Although the scale and intent of these dynamics are still debated, the overall trend toward less authentic online interaction is difficult to ignore.
How about we do something about it?
EON 