The Internet's biggest threat
Is the Internet, as we know it, dying? This troubling question is at the heart of a growing conspiracy theory, the Dead Internet Theory, which suggests that the Web is increasingly populated by robots and algorithmically-generated content, to the point where genuine human activity is becoming anecdotal.
The dead Internet theory
The Dead Internet theory first surfaced on 4chan forums around 2010. At the time, it was widely regarded as an exaggerated and obscure conspiracy theory. However, it gained popularity in 2021, when it was revived on an Agora Road forum.
The theory postulates that the majority of online content is now generated by robots, distorting our human interactions. When we surf the Internet, we're no longer talking to humans, but to robots. This theory seems to be seeping into a variety of platforms, including Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Gmail…
The rise of robots
The omnipresence of robots on the Internet is undeniable. X or Amazon, for example, is plagued by bots, software designed to mimic human behavior and perform specific tasks. A simple search reveals numerous faulty bots linked to ChatGPT, unable to produce coherent sentences.
Although it is difficult to determine the exact proportion of robots online, estimates suggest that they account for a significant share of Internet traffic. However, not all robots are malicious. There are "good bots" that monitor the health of websites, search for data or index sites for search engines. Google, for example, constantly deploys bots on websites to improve its search results and better target websites. On the other hand, "bad bots" engage in harmful activities such as DDoS attacks, data theft, hacking and spam. Spammers, in particular, spread scams and distort human interaction by posting comments and discussions. Although spammers cause damage, their impact may not be as great as we think, at least for now. You can read the 2024 State of Bot Mitigation, this report brings a lot of figures.
How can I protect software against bots?
With the number of bots on the rise, we have to start taking notice. You should use solutions such as Cloudflare, Datadome, Akamai, Kasada, Spur or Castle.io, but they are often expensive for small businesses.
As the CTO of several SaaS products, I need to protect my software from the increasing prevalence of bots while keeping costs under control. I've developed a solution named Veille.io that secures login and registration forms using a rule-based system, allowing me to prioritize which requests to block based on IP, email, domain name, or user-agent.
The future of the Internet: a gloomy omen
The future of the Internet looks bleak. Google, the cornerstone of the Web, may decide to keep the whole cake for itself, rejecting the hundreds of millions of websites that have given it life. If our first Google page, so important for websites, were replaced by an AI, it would destroy an entire ecosystem.
Google has already announced its intention to integrate AI into its search engine, indicating that it is well aware of the potential of this technology. The Internet of yesteryear, a simple place for sharing, has become a place where everyone is fighting for users' attention.
This "attention economy" has real consequences. The digital giants are fighting for every minute of our attention, and that attention represents a significant part of our lives. The content we consume online can contribute to behavioral disorders, anxiety and depression.
The Internet may not be dead, but it is a tool to be used with care. Social media, in particular, can be a sinkhole if left unchecked. It's essential to be aware of the forces at work and to take steps to protect our attention and well-being.