Dead Internet Theory, The Internet Is Empty | Esoteric Internet

How can we know the dancer from the dance? #DeadInternet

The "Dead Internet" theory proposes that the Internet is "dead". How can a bundle of tubes, cords, and clouds be dead? The name is misleading (and maybe misapplied), but it is not totally incorrect. The Internet suffers a unique form of entropy. Websites, data, and users all exist in a social-technological ecosystem many will do not realize. Everyone (even you) are in this box. The problem is: parts of the box appear to be defunct or not available at all.

The Internet is essentially a game of shadows. Users have to guess at most of what is "there". A problem when most of the modern Internet functions largely in the background. This has produced an eternally repeating cycle around a chain of a dozen "central" websites. The centralization of the Internet has produced a system that does not appear to be there at all. Maybe no one is there anyways...

Could the Internet just be empty?
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Video Sources (Support the creators/uploaders):
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Music:
Terraria OST - "Underground Ice" (00:00-01:24)
Terraria OST - "Ice" (01:21-02:15)
Frédéric Chopin - "Galop Marquis", performed by Aya Higuch (02:15-02:25)
Terraria OST - "Ocean" (02:25-03:54)
Terraria OST - "Corruption" (03:53-06:21)
Terraria OST - "Eclipse" (06:21-07:58)
Terraria OST - "Space" (07:58-09:33)
Terraria OST - "Space Day" (09:33-10:56)
Terraria OST - "Windy Day" (10:56-12:18)
Terraria OST - "Crimson" (12:19-14:25)
Terraria OST - "Underground Crimson" (14:25-17:07)
Terraria: Otherworld Extracted Soundtrack - "Glimmers of Vibrance (Snow)" (17:06-20:06)
Terraria: Otherworld Extracted Soundtrack - "Enchanted Blue (Ocean)" (20:04-23:22)
Terraria: Otherworld Extracted Soundtrack - "Sky Guardian (Jungle)" (23:21-26:20)
David Bergeaud (Ratchet & Clank OST) - "Kerwan - Metropolis" (26:19-30:32)
David Bergeaud (Ratchet & Clank OST) - "Batalia - Rail Grinding" (30:32-34:32)
Terraria OST - "Morning Rain" (34:23-35:14)
Ben Elliott - "Journey To Paris" (35:14-35:47)
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All copyrighted media, images, and music respective owner(s).
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Thanks For Watching, Or Are You?

[Kodeb]

The original dead internet theory thread was not from 4chan's /x/ board, it was from wizchan! I was there when it was posted.

[zach]

"The internet is dead" :(
"Nobody killed it, which is good" :)
"But it's also undead" :o
"Which is bad" :(

[SpoopySquid]

This video hits different in 2024 as generative language tools continue to grow more sophisticated

[sonneedswater]

I personally see it as the “quiet internet” the real/living part is us, things created by the individual, then there’s the loud internet, ads, bots, algorithms etc etc. There’s still a lot of us but it’s overshadowed by the “machines” but eventually, the dead internet theory will be true and even sadder, once we get far enough most YouTube comments will be bots and eventually all of them

[karqz]

The part about fetishization of "update for the sake of update" above logic and user comfort is spot on. The most recent Facebook layout update for PC comes to mind especially.

[HexStickman]

I just recently finished an information systems course that was taught by a dude that didn't really understand how the internet works anymore, mainly basing the course on systems that died over a decade ago. It was interesting to hear him explain how the internet and information might "advance" in the future, knowing that he probably wrote his lectures 15 years ago. The net has been cannibalized for the sake of convenience, and I wonder where exactly the logical conclusion to all this ends up.

[Honeybarbecuepumpum]

The net is just 5-6 websites now. You spent 99% of your time on YouTube and the other 1% is shared between social media, streaming sites and school/work. It's not varied like it was between 2003-2007. You used yo be able to personalize your page and put your personal stamp on your page (think geocites and og MySpace). Now everyone's page looks the same. It used to feel like Tokyo in the 80s, now it feels like modern day new york.

[hardlo]

I think the internet died when it became mainstream, around the time smartphones became publicly available. Prior to this the internet, computers, and geek culture as a whole was the realm of nerds, who were often looked down upon or at least seen unfavorably.

Once everyone, even your grandma, began using the Internet, corporations moved in, bought everything or made replacements for everything, thus monopolizing it, sanitized it, and then monetized it, leading to the "dead" feeling of nowadays internet.

I mean 10 years ago I had a ton of forums I used to browse, nowadays all but one are dead, and all those people either moved on or flocked to Reddit.

[justiniani]

It's important to point out that the internet we are seeing is only the anglosphere internet. There's an equally huge spreaking internet that we do not see. This should be factored in when talking about "the internet" feeling empty.

[georgewilson]

"I am not a number, I am a person!" Said Number 6.

[adamjung]

Dude I've got a theory that's very similar to this, it all started about 5 or 6 years ago, I was trying to fix an obscure high end 80s stereo and I needed a service manual for circuit diagrams. Well in the days of the living internet it would be really simple search and download link.. well all the sudden my search results had nothing but page after page of online retailers who's whole business were obscure electronics service manuals. 1000s of these sites. Suffice to say, algorithms were creating these sites on the fly and effectively hiding any links to free downloads..since that initial incident it's expanded in all sorts of directions and it follows cery closely to this theory..

[pocoloco]

When I was a kid, the internet always fascinated me. It seemed like an infinite source of human creativity and expression. Every page, as simple or straightforward as they were, felt like a sneak peek into someone's unique mind or personality. Nowadays the vast majority of everything online circles around a half dozen giant corporate websites with standardized layouts and highly moderated content.

[TheGamedragon]

I'm surprised you found an interesting topic on /x/ between all the threads asking how to summon succubuses.

[JohnDoe-hsjp]

"Reddit users are worthless"

No greater truth has been or ever will be spoken on this channel.

[ctsamurai]

It seems like the Internet, such as we experience it now, passed through its "big bang" phase - full of close and somewhat chaotic interconnected sites and servers, etc. into larger formations of "galaxies" or stellar systems. There is still lots of complex interactions happening but - as with the physical universe - there is ever more emptiness between all things.

[AlexDoesYouTubes]

And now in 2024 half the internet is AI generated non-sense.
What a time to be alive.

[Conejoazul]

I really miss websites that were made from the ground up not by an company but an single or at least small group of people....

[andrewjohnson]

"A fascinating if extreme idea"
I'm pretty sure that's what 4chan is there for.

[WrestlingColin]

A lot of us feel this, but can’t quite put our finger on that feeling. Or we’re just afraid to name it. Almost everyday I think to myself “wow, I only know 4 websites now”

[tubeguy]

I remember when I was on a thread on 8/k/ once and someone responded with something like "What the Hell?" and posted a link to a forum. It was some old random gun forum from years ago, but it was the exact same thread and exact same 30 replies were copied from there and posted on the thread on /k/.
Very strange.