... The Dead Internet Theory [ en.wikipedia.org ] is a false conspiracy theory. But in practical terms, it might as well be true.

Emerging from the deranged muck of 4chan and Wizardchan in the late 2010s, the Dead Internet Theory holds that secret cabals of all-powerful government or corporate conspirators use bots and AI-generated content to replace humans on the internet. The goal: to manipulate public perception, control narratives, and influence the public's behavior.

A central tenet of the theory is that most online content is generated by bots and AI, not people.

The false part is the conspiracy. The true part is that most internet content is indeed bots and AI.

Midway through 2025, roughly 74% of newly created content online was generated with the help of AI or bots, according to several large-scale studies. Only about one-quarter of online content is created by people without AI assistance. ...