The Dead Internet: Unveiling the Hidden Hand Behind Social Media X

Like in “The Matrix,” the information we see on social media can be deceptively fake, crafted by unseen hands manipulating the story. Imagine if the internet, which we think is a lively, user-driven space, is a barren landscape controlled by bots and algorithms. This eerie idea is known as the Dead Internet Theory. Are we truly in control of what we see online, or are we just playing our parts in a grand illusion?

Elon Musk’s Twitter Overhaul: A Gateway to Misinformation?

As you may have noticed, X (formerly known as Twitter) has a new verification system. In the past, verified accounts got a blue tick after going through a verification process. Now, anyone can buy a blue tick for $8 dollars per month. At first glance, implementing the new verification system may only be a little costly for users (Charlotte Day). However, with a closer look, this new verification system hides a conspiracy of destruction against the world.

Just hours after launching the new blue tick system, Twitter was flooded with fake ‘verified’ accounts. While many of these were harmless, funny parodies, some impersonated real public figures, or companies, which could lead to serious problems (Charlotte Day). Within hours of the new blue checks launching, users purchased checkmarks to impersonate people including Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and Kobe Bryant, CNN reported (Conor Murray).

In 2018, a study analyzed 14 million tweets from 2016 and 2017, revealing that bots were heavily involved in spreading articles from unreliable sources. High-follower accounts legitimize misinformation, leading real users to believe, engage with, and share content posted by bots (Jake Renzella, Vlada Rozova). This manipulation has been particularly noticeable after mass shootings in the U.S. In 2019, a study found that bot-generated posts on X (formerly Twitter) significantly influenced public discussions, often amplifying or distorting narratives around extreme events (Jake Renzella, Vlada Rozova).

More recently, pro-Russian disinformation campaigns have aimed to undermine support for Ukraine. Activists and journalists uncovered these coordinated efforts, which used bots and AI to create and spread fake information, reaching millions (Jake Renzella, Vlada Rozova). On X alone, more than 10,000 bot accounts posted tens of thousands of pro-Kremlin messages, falsely attributed to U.S. and European celebrities supporting the war against Ukraine (Jake Renzella, Vlada Rozova). This level of influence is substantial, with reports indicating that nearly half of all internet traffic in 2022 was generated by bots. With advancements in generative AI, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, the quality of fake content is only improving.

Financial lost caused by X’s bot issue:

Besides negative impacts on society, the new verification system also brought significant financial loss to X company. Considering X charges a 96 dollars fee annually that was previously free from use, users report high dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, other social media competitors such as Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok are free to use, X lost its competitive significantly, especially under the circumstance of misinformation issue. As a result, more than 500 advertisers have paused their spending on Twitter in response to the changes and Musk’s extensive layoffs, causing a dramatic 40% drop in the platform’s daily revenue (Sheila Dang). This decline underscores the financial impact of the verification system’s overhaul, which has been met with widespread criticism from both advertisers and users (Sheila Dang).

Why Elon Musk does not stop the use of the new verification system?

In fact, Elon Musk already noticed the possible drawbacks of the new verification system even before the launch day. To be specific, Twitter’s trust and safety team compiled a detailed seven-page list of recommendations aimed at helping Elon Musk navigate potential pitfalls with the new blue plan. The document, which was later obtained by Platformer, eerily predicted many of the issues that would unfold (Peter Suciu).

One of the key warnings in the document, labeled as the highest priority (“P0”), cautioned that scammers and malicious actors might exploit the increased amplification available through the new system. “Motivated scammers could be willing to pay to leverage this amplification for their benefit,” the document warned (Peter Suciu). Another major concern highlighted was the increased risk of impersonation, noting that the loss of the legacy verification system could lead to a rise in fake accounts impersonating world leaders, advertisers, and other high-profile individuals (Peter Suciu). This, they argued, would undermine the platform’s ability to enforce rules against impersonation effectively.

Beside all those warning, Elon Musk still decided to launch the new verification system that increased risk of impersonation and misinformation. Even more suspicious, Elon Musk layoff 80% of Twitter’s employees, including top executives, programmers, and the entire Ethical AI team that protects human rights. Kirschner warned that unless a team with similar expertise to those who were let go is reinstated, bot activity on the platform is likely to continue rising (Peter Suciu).

Does Elon Musk wants to exacerbating the misinformation crisis?

Given that Elon Musk was aware of the potential financial losses and serious negative impacts associated with the new verification system, one must question the rationale behind implementing such a flawed plan. Why introduce a verification system that fails to boost Twitter’s revenue and worsens the issue of misinformation, especially when staff layoffs have already undermined the platform’s ability to address these problems?

Is there a deeper motive at play? Could Musk’s strategy be aimed at exacerbating the misinformation crisis to the point where it disrupts societal norms and exerts control over public perception through Twitter? Or is there another, perhaps more hidden, agenda driving these decisions?

Bibliography:

Charlotte Day. (22) Understanding Twitter’s New Verification System | LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-twitters-new-verification-system-charlotte-day/. Accessed 27 July 2024.

Conor Murray. Verification To View Counts: Here’s Every Twitter Change Under Elon Musk. https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/01/18/verification-to-view-counts-heres-every-twitter-change-under-elon-musk/. Accessed 27 July 2024.

Jake Renzella, Vlada Rozova. The ‘Dead Internet Theory’ Makes Eerie Claims about an AI-Run Web. The Truth Is More Sinister. https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/05/-the-dead-internet-theory-makes-eerie-claims-about-an-ai-run-web-the-truth-is-more-sinister. Accessed 27 July 2024.

Peter Suciu. Will A Subscription Stop Bots On X? That’s The $1 Question. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2023/10/18/will-a-subscription-stop-bots-on-x-thats-the-1-question/. Accessed 27 July 2024.

Sheila Dang. US Ad Revenue at Musk’s X Declined Each Month since Takeover -Data | Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-ad-revenue-musks-x-declined-each-month-since-takeover-data-2023-10-04/. Accessed 27 July 2024.