‘Dead Internet Theory’ explained: Why Reddit founder blames 'quasi AI' and ‘LinkedIn slop’ for killing the web | Company Business News
The “dead internet theory” claims that much of today’s online interaction is no longer human but instead controlled by bots and artificial intelligence. Originally emerging on Reddit, the idea has gained renewed attention after cofounder Alexis Ohanian voiced support for it, suggesting that quasi-AI systems and low-quality automated content—what he refers to as “LinkedIn slop”—are draining life from the web. Ohanian argues genuine human signals like live audience engagement are becoming rare and therefore more valuable. He envisions a future where social platforms must evolve into “verifiably human” spaces where real people connect, not AI proxies. That transition, he believes, may already be happening in private group chats and smaller networks. The rise of AI chatbots and mass bot infiltration, Ohanian contends, has eroded meaningful human engagement and undermined the authenticity of online communities.
The Key points
- The dead internet theory suggests a large share of online content is generated by bots or AI, not humans.
- Reddit user “IlluminatiPirate” helped spark this theory with a well-read post.
- Ohanian criticizes “quasi-AI” and “LinkedIn slop” as symbols of low-value, machine-driven content.
- He claims that real human interaction online is becoming increasingly rare and precious.
- Live engagement (e.g. live viewers, real-time feedback) is now a scarce digital asset.
- Ohanian foresees social media evolving toward platforms that can verify human participation.
- The new wave of online connection might shift into group chats and smaller, private spaces.
- AI chatbots and automated accounts are implicated in drowning out real voices.
- The deluge of bot content may erode trust in what users see and who they interact with.
- Ohanian sees the future of the web as one where authentic human content is central again.
Disclaimer: This preview includes title, image, and description automatically sourced from the original website (www.livemint.com) using publicly available metadata / OG tags. All rights, including copyright and content ownership, remain with the original publisher. If you are the content owner and wish to request removal, please contact us from your official email to no_reply@newspaperhunt.com.
