John Pork Isn’t Dead, But The Internet Might Be: Why AI Slop Has Taken Over Our Feeds
Thank you to BRITA for supporting the podcast, helping us keep our deep dives going, and, of course, keeping us hydrated! Check out BRITA here: https://www.brita.com.au/turnonthetaste This episode is an exploration of into the rise and consequences of AI slop— how and why the internet has become overrun with disturbing and bizarre mass-produced brainrot content devoid of meaning and if that means the internet actually is becoming less human– or maybe even dead. Timestamps: 00:42 Intro 3:04 What is AI Slop? 9:07 The Dead Internet Theory 14:21 How platforms have responded to AI Slop 16:27 Engagement farming & capitalising on confusion 17:44 Ragebait& discriminatory AI memes 19:49 The consequences of AI slop Find our podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18HclY7Tt5-1e3Z-MEP7Jg Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitescrollpodcast/ Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/ Sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/08/trump-posts-ai-image/679540/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/11/style/ai-search-slop.html https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/chrisstokelwalker/pope-puffy-jacket-ai-midjourney-image-creator-interview https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/facebook-ai-generated-slop-1235095088/ https://www.garbageday.email/p/slop-void https://www.vox.com/culture/378855/ai-slop-fall-autumn-inspiration-vibes-pinterest https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/08/dead-internet-theory-wrong-but-feels-true/619937/ Walter, Y. (2025). Artificial influencers and the dead internet theory. AI & Society, 40(1), 239–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01857-0 Mariani, R. (2023). The Dead Internet to Come. New Atlantis (Washington, D.C.), 73, 34–42. https://etymology.substack.com/p/slop-capitalism-and-dead-internet https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriswestfall/2025/01/02/meta-opens-floodgates-on-ai-generated-accounts-on-facebook-instagram/ https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/21/meta-spotted-testing-ai-generated-comments-on-instagram/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/09/kermit-ai-generated-home-screen/679757/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/09/confusion-is-the-new-clickbait/679916/ https://substack.com/@etymologynerd/p-159915598 https://www.404media.co/brainrot-ai-on-instagram-is-monetizing-the-most-fucked-up-things-you-can-imagine-and-lots-you-cant/ https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/meta-ai-insta-shuts-character-instagram-fb-accounts-user-outcry-rcna186177 https://www.fastcompany.com/91293162/ai-slop-is-suffocating-the-web https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/is-ai-art-stealing-from-artists
