OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote a tweet about the dead internet theory and was instantly informed that he was part of the problem. What is the theory, and how does it hold up in 2025?

Are we just talking to bots? The 'dead internet theory' resurfaces as AI-driven traffic overtakes humans online.

But Altman's post raised another question for a lot of users — what is dead internet theory anyway?

The Rapture is a belief held by many evangelical Christians in which Jesus returns to take true believers to Heaven before a period of tribulation on Earth.

Ever been spammed by bot content when you’re trying to browse news stories on X, or stumbled across creepy AI-generated photos‘ on Facebook that lack context but still have thousands of likes? If so, it’s likely you’re seeing the dead internet ...

Podcaster and author Mel Robbins has recently published a book about how letting go of expectations of others can benefit your life. (Getty Images) If you’re on the self-help side of social media, there are two words that you may be hearing a lot lately ...

There are over 11,000 videos on TikTok using the hashtag "let them theory" Jordana Comiter is an Associate Editor on the Evergreen team at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024. Her work has previously appeared in Women’s Health Magazine ...