Is Half of the Internet Now Run by AI Bots? Exploring the Dead Internet Theory

- AI content weakens social trust and leads to information overload - Approximately 50% of internet traffic is generated by bots [Unblock Media] The Dead Internet Theory posits that most internet content is generated by AI bots. This means that the texts, videos, and comments we see online might not be produced by humans but by AI or bots. According to Forbes, this theory suggests that AI content weakens social trust, causes information overload, and can increase distrust among users. Particularly on social media, there is a growing likelihood that posts we see from our friends are actually created by AI bots. In an era where generating and using text or images through AI is possible, it can be challenging to distinguish between real humans and AI. This includes cases where bots create and operate social media accounts directly. The Verge reports that major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok are tightening their policies related to AI content, but issues still persist. It is estimated that approximately 50% of internet traffic is generated by bots. Bots are essential automated scripts that operate the internet, such as web crawlers that index pages for search engines. However, malicious bots like spam bots and web scrapers also constitute a significant portion. In some instances, they can take websites offline via DDoS attacks. According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, about 47% of internet traffic in 2024 was generated by bots, with approximately half being classified as malicious bot traffic. Although social media could be considered the last bastion for human interaction, AI-generated content is rapidly increasing there too. Many social media sites are mainly concerned with generating traffic and pay little attention to how content is created. An article by Wired emphasizes the importance of originality, reliability, and contextual relevance as quality standards for AI content, and reports that relevant AI verification tools are in development. In conclusion, it is crucial for us to adapt to the increase in AI content and learn how to identify it. According to Statista, as of 2024, approximately 48% of small-scale creators adopted content creation using AI tools, reducing the average content creation time by 30%. While the transition to a Dead Internet scenario is still far off, we must be mindful of its potential to become a reality at any moment. Lastly, providing concrete examples of actual posts created by AI on specific social media platforms can help readers understand better. For instance, explaining AI-generated posts on Twitter or AI-created images on Facebook can be beneficial. This will help readers learn how to distinguish between AI and human-created content, thereby enriching their internet experience.