The internet is dead, long live the internet!

Drawing from a conspiracy theory from the late 2010s/early 2020s, known as the Dead Internet Theory, which suggested that the majority of online content and interactions were generated by bots, our upcoming workshop seeks to delve into a speculative future. Once a paranoid fantasy, this theory gains new relevance amidst the rapid advancements in AI and the ongoing degradation of service quality of the major platforms. Our workshop proposes to explore a near future where the "Dead Internet" becomes a lived reality for the average user.

We aim to navigate this tumultuous landscape by questioning the current trajectory of the platform-centered internet and discussing alternatives and migrations to new, more authentic spaces. The workshop will touch on the role of Generative AI in this shift, examining both their potential to exacerbate the decline of the old and their utility in crafting solutions for the new. What do we carry with us? What do we leave behind?

img © Martin Bruner