The Dead Internet Is Here

I want to start by saying I like AI. A lot. I interact with it all the time, often as a thought partner to help me flesh out my ideas. In fact, I used AI significantly to write this very piece, which is critical of what’s happening with AI.

And I love social media, at its best. I see its potential to help us communicate better and build real friendships with people anywhere in the world.

So, this isn't a post criticizing technology from the outside. It’s a reflection from the inside.

A while back, I came across the "Dead Internet Theory." The basic idea is that more and more of the content and conversations online are being generated by bots and AI, not actual people.

Well, it’s true.

I agree that the “dead internet” issue is happening and accelerating. I'm not saying the internet is 100% dead, or that it ever will be, but I see this dynamic emerging.

To be fair, this is probably less relevant for people who are just using social media casually to connect with friends. I'm seeing it more in the world of entrepreneurs and creators - people who are trying to get a lot of followers or build a business. There’s a stronger motivation there to please the algorithm. I'm in that world to a certain extent, and I'm observing what's happening.

On some of my accounts, I know I'm getting automated responses, for example. I'm certain that some accounts have bots set up to reply to my posts. It's not a person writing it; it's being activated.

But it's more subtle than that, too. I'm confident that people are using AI to help them write. I mean… I do it. Some of my friends do it.

Where it gets fuzzy is how it's being used, and the impact on a larger scale.

One example:

I suspect that people are using AI to write longer posts, faster than they would have otherwise, cranking out more quality content. As someone who consumes a lot of content, I suddenly have to sort through all this long-form writing. It makes me wonder: how many people are really able to produce that much long-form content, and on the other side, how many people are able to read it all? How many of us are using AI to save time and get a summary? It's a really interesting dynamic.

But this isn't about blame.

I think about the solopreneur who doesn't have a lot of resources. They're competing with a well-funded person who can hire a whole staff to write content for them. The algorithm rewards accounts that can be ever-present with consistent output. If that creator uses AI to find some leverage and keep up, can you blame them for that? I respect people for being resourceful.

Still, it creates a dynamic worth thinking about. Are we being pushed to use AI not as a thought partner, but as a content machine?

For me, the point of social media is the potential for connection. It’s a place to express yourself, develop how you communicate, and actually meet people. The "Dead Internet" side of things is the opposite of that. It can feel void of emotion and real connection.

Thinking about all this doesn't discourage me. It makes me want to double down on the human part. It makes me want to hop on more video calls or meet people in real life, because that personal connection is valuable.

It's just something I'm thinking about.

So, want to hop on a call?

- Dan Ryan