Dead Internet theory

Imagine you're playing tag, but some of the players aren't real people! That's kind of what the Dead Internet theory is about. It's a big idea that says a lot of what we see online, like comments or posts, might not be from real humans anymore. It suggests that since about 2016, the internet has become filled with computer programs called bots, making it hard to tell what's real and what's not.

This idea started buzzing around a few years ago, around 2016. Think of it like a new game rule being added that nobody told you about! People started noticing that things online felt a bit strange, like they were seeing the same things over and over. They wondered if computer programs were secretly making the internet seem busier than it really was with human activity.

This is important because the internet is like a giant playground for learning and talking to friends. If robots are running the show, they might be trying to trick us or show us only certain things. It's like if your teacher only let you read one type of book. Understanding this theory helps us be smarter online and know when to ask, 'Is this real?'

These computer programs, called bots, are like super-fast helpers for people who want to control what we see. They can write comments, share posts, and even make websites look popular. They are programmed to follow rules, like making certain topics trend or making a product seem like everyone wants it. It's like having a whole team of pretend friends liking your drawing!