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A bit of background Dead Internet Theory originated about three years ago before the most recent GenAI boom (think pre-ChatGPT). The theory argued that most of the internet was "dead" because much of the content being written was produced by bots. It also argued that algorithms intentionally minimized human-to-human interaction. Three years ago, Dead Internet Theory wouldn't have resonated with me. Even today, the idea that algorithms are intentionally attempting to minimize organic human interaction feels a tad too tinfoil-hat for my tastes. However, given the rise of GenAI and the sheer volume of content it has already produced and will produce in the coming months and years, I think it's worth seriously considering what a new Dead Internet Theory means for the web and the people that inhabit it. System Shock In the early days of ChatGPT many smart people tried to wrap their heads around what these technologies would mean for themselves and humanity. The zealots a...