Dead Internet Theory Gains Traction as AI Content Surges Online

The rise of AI-generated content and automated systems is transforming the internet, leading to concerns that much of online activity is no longer human-driven. Current research indicates that automated traffic surpassed human traffic for the first time in 2024, with bots responsible for over half of all web actions. Sociologists like Alex Turvy note that this shift is altering the way users engage online, causing many to retreat to private spaces where they feel secure in their interactions. Reports suggest that bots create artificial interactions by inflating engagement metrics, making genuine human activity increasingly indistinguishable from automated content. Furthermore, the trend is supported by financial incentives that reward engaging machines over authentic creativity. Analysts warn that as AI agents take over more tasks online, distinguishing between human and automated content will become more challenging, exacerbating feelings of disconnection in the digital landscape.

Source 🔗