The Dead Internet Theory: The Dark Side of AI Automation

The internet we knew is dying — or at least changing beyond recognition. With the rise of artificial intelligence, the digital space is becoming a place where the lines between people and machines are blurred, and interactions are becoming less authentic and less “human.” The “Dead Internet Theory,” though often seen as a conspiracy theory, surprisingly captures some of these changes accurately. What if we’re already living in a web where most content is created not by people, but by algorithms? And what does that mean for the future?

Content for Content: AI Writing for AI

If you were born before 2010, let's take a moment to remember what the internet was like just ten years ago. Forums, blogs, and early social networks — all of these relied on human participation. People wrote articles, shared their thoughts, and debated in the comments. It was a vibrant ecosystem of ideas. But with the development of AI technology, this ecosystem started to change. Today, content is no longer created solely by humans. Texts, news articles, and social media posts — all of these can now be generated by machines.

AI can now write articles that are almost impossible to tell apart from those written by humans. You’ve probably read some of these articles without even realizing it. Could this article itself have been written by an AI service? A news article? A social media post? A comment under a video? All of these could be the work — or rather, the "code" — of an algorithm.

According to research, about 15% of Twitter accounts are bots, creating the illusion of real user activity. This is especially true in political discussions, where AI is used to push certain viewpoints. And that’s only what we can identify — the real percentage might be much higher.

What about other social networks, like LinkedIn and Facebook? Unfortunately, the reality is even more worrying. We can’t fully measure the true scale of this problem because it’s simply impossible to study it completely. Social media is where the "dead internet" shows itself most clearly. Think about the last time you got a like or a comment on your post. Are you sure it was from a real person? Research by Emilio Ferrara found that about 19% of political posts on Twitter during the 2016 U.S. election were made by bots. These bots can spread information, reply to comments, and even engage in discussions, creating the illusion of real human interaction.

In addition, companies use automation to manage their social media pages. AI writes posts, tracks engagement, and improves content. At the same time, regular users are also using AI to automate their accounts. This means we are helping create this situation ourselves. As a result, social media is becoming a place where algorithms mimic activity, and real human communication is disappearing.

AI models don’t just create posts — they learn from every interaction you have. A like, a comment, or even just a view provides data that AI uses to understand what grabs your interest. Algorithms analyze which topics, headlines, images, or phrases get the most engagement. With every learning cycle, they get better at creating content designed to catch your attention. This turns content into a tool that doesn’t just inform you, but actively manipulates your emotions, reactions, and behavior. It keeps you on the platform longer or influences your decisions, often without you realizing it.

Creating AI-generated content to influence politics is one of the most dangerous sides of internet automation. These technologies can produce fake news, manipulate public opinion with bots, and even create fake videos or audio of politicians making false statements.

The problem is made worse because it’s becoming almost impossible to tell fake content from real content, especially for regular users. Without clear tools to detect fake content, society is left vulnerable to manipulation. This can weaken trust in democratic processes and institutions, creating serious challenges for free elections and political transparency.

Case Study: AI in Recruitment – The Race of Machines

The hiring process has become another battleground for AI systems. Modern employers are increasingly using algorithms to scan resumes and cover letters. These systems search for keywords, analyze writing style, and check if the experience is relevant — all automatically. According to an article by Peter Cappelli in the Harvard Business Review, about 75% of resumes never even reach a recruiter’s eyes because AI filters them out.

But the game doesn’t end there. Job seekers, knowing how these algorithms work, are also turning to AI tools to create the “perfect” documents. These tools generate resumes designed to pass AI filters and write ideal cover letters.

As a result, we end up with a situation where one AI creates the documents, and another AI filters them. Humans are left out of the equation — they’re just spectators watching a battle of algorithms.

\Visual Content: Reality or Illusion?

AI has learned not just to write text but to create images too. Services like This Person Does Not Exist can generate realistic images of people and objects that don’t exist. At first glance, this might seem like just another tool, but it raises serious questions. Where do we draw the line between real and fake if an AI-generated image looks exactly like a real photo?

Social media, where visuals play a huge role, is now filling up with this kind of “artificial art.” People post AI-generated pictures to get reactions, sometimes from an audience that might also be made up of bots.

These examples show that the internet is becoming less of a place for people. It’s turning into a space where AI interacts with AI. One algorithm creates content, another analyzes it, a third filters it, and a fourth replies to comments. Human involvement is shrinking, and communication is becoming just a series of signals exchanged between machines.

This might sound like progress, but there are hidden problems. If machines are creating a large part of online content, trust in information decreases. We already live in a world where it’s hard to tell the difference between truth and manipulation. Automating communication, especially on social media, makes the internet feel fake. People lose the ability to form genuine relationships online.

When AI generates comments that influence public opinion, we face a deep ethical dilemma. Who is responsible for these actions? The algorithm is just doing its job. Is it the developer who created and trained the AI? The company that uses it on their platform? Or maybe no one, since AI doesn’t have free will or moral awareness? This lack of clarity creates risks for society. Manipulative AI-generated comments can promote false trends, spread misinformation, or even affect elections. Until laws and ethical standards catch up with these technologies, we’re at risk of living in a world where no one is held responsible for AI’s influence, opening the door to abuse.

The “Dead Internet Theory,” even though it started as a conspiracy theory, is beginning to seem less absurd. We see signs that human involvement in creating and consuming content is decreasing, giving way to automation. Social media platforms are filled with AI-generated content, and user interactions are often modified or replaced by bots. This changes the nature of the internet and raises important questions about its future.

To keep the internet “human,” we need action on several levels:

1. Tech companies need to take more responsibility for how they use AI. Transparency in algorithms, tools to detect fake content, and support for real interactions should be priorities. For example, labeling AI-generated content can help users know who or what they are interacting with.

2. Users need to stay involved and informed. This means improving digital literacy, thinking critically about information, and understanding how algorithms work. We should learn to tell real from fake, avoid falling for manipulative content, and maintain genuine human connections online.

3. Regulation and ethical guidelines are necessary to protect both users and companies. This isn’t just about data protection — it’s also about controlling how AI is used in social and political processes. Regulation should ensure the internet remains a human space, prevent abuse, and promote equal access to technology.

   
   

But that’s not enough. To keep the internet “human,” it needs to become a place for creativity, open dialogue, and real communication again. We should support communities based on honesty and authenticity, where human voices are louder than algorithms. Platforms that prioritize people, not just profits from keeping users online, can set a better example.

The internet is still alive. But its future depends on how we use the technology we create. If we blindly follow the path of full automation, we risk losing what makes the internet truly valuable: human presence. But if we carefully balance technology with human values, we can return the internet to its original purpose — a space for people, not machines.