The End of the Human Web: Dead Internet Theory

How AI and Automation Might Replace Human Interaction Online

Photo by ThisIsEngineering

The Internet as we know it today was invented and released to the public somewhere in the mid-1990s — and so was I, as a human being. I’ve grown up alongside this rapidly evolving technology since I was about 10 years old. As a teenager, I had a blast exploring the Internet, playing games, and connecting with people. Later, in my adult life, I specialized in SEO, which quickly became my primary source of income.

Knowing SEO and marketing, I always understood that the Internet was full of nonsense and shady practices driven by the relentless pursuit of profit, especially on social media. Nevertheless, for a solid two decades, it truly was a space where people could share, connect, and even tie their online activity to the real-world.

Today, however, I’m convinced that the Internet is almost death–or at least its human side. I can demonstrate this in countless ways, from personal experience to technological nuances, but let’s start by structuring the topic.

Dead Internet Theory is somewhat of a conspiracy theory when taken to extremes. But at its core, it argues that much of the Internet is no longer driven by authentic human activity. Instead, it’s filled with AI-generated content, bots…