The dead internet theory?

Legacy article from December 31st, 2024

When you receive texts, emails, and other forms of digital communication, you probably never question who sent you that message...

Why?

Because your phone/computer tells you EXACTLY who sent it.

Well, in reality you are just looking at words on a screen. Those words could have come from anyone, and even if your phone says that it came from (so and so), you are still trusting that it actually came from that person.

What point am I getting at?

We have grown to blindly trust our phones and computers to provide us with truthful information.

When most people search the internet, read articles, send messages, and watch videos they assume that the information they are consuming is correct.

Nowadays technology is so advanced that you can hardly decipher what is real or not! (Even for videos). Even scarier than that, is a theory called the "Dead Internet Theory".

This theory talks about how "Bots" or computers ran accounts have taken over the internet. For example, let's say you see a political post. A LOT of those replies can be fake. All to push an agenda.

The same thing can happen to cause "smear campaigns on people" or on the other hand to prop up fake influencers who are pushing the "correct" narrative.

With AI's advances, it's clear that AI will soon (if not already) be completely indistinguishable from a real person. Even on video. And with deepfake technology, they can take someone's face, body, and voice, and put them into fake videos.

It's like the scene from The Terminator. Where the terminator imitates his victims voice.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves in this walled garden of possible fake information?

1. We have to fight for online privacy and freedom of speech. (These go deeply hand in hand).

   1. Now this won't prevent fake information, BUT at least it will allow everyone to share real information. And the power of truth is unlike any other.

   2. By protecting your privacy, and cutting off your flow of data the AI they will have much less information on you that it can use against you.

   3. By using free and private software, you can access information that is not biased.

2. We cannot blindly trust what we see, and we have to remain skeptical.

   1. The internet is a great example of how information can be manipulated. But, this is not entirely unique to the internet, in fact it could happen in the past through TV, books, and fake education programs. Information is always subject to manipulation.

   2. We have to look inward and at reality to find truth. (know yourself and listen to your instinct)

3. We cannot abandon the real world.

   1. Tech advances can be great. They can make our lives much richer and convenient. But we cannot blindly give up our rights in exchange for a new iPhone (this being just an example).

   2. We cannot lose track of what matters most in life, which is family, friends, and a real world community. Tech addiction is real. And one of the best ways you can get private is through digital minimalism.

   3. Find real, local communities. Use goldbacks, cash, or private cryptocurrencies.

Don't get tricked by AI or "Dead internet bots". Don't fall victim to mass manipulation through technology.

Get private, defend your freedoms, and also trust your natural instincts.

Thank you!

Eric