Guest Jason Koebler discusses the AI-generated spam on Facebook, the platform's lack of control, and the concept of the 'zombie internet.' They explore AI altering content, Facebook's decline, and the impact on user behavior. Also covered are the financial benefits of AI content and changes in the platform's algorithm.
AI-generated content blurs authenticity on Facebook, challenging user experiences.
Facebook becomes a 'zombie internet' flooded with AI-generated spam and misinformation.
Exploitation of AI-generated content on Facebook blurs lines between real and fake interactions.
Deep dives
AI-Generated Content on Facebook
The proliferation of AI-generated content on Facebook has led to a complex landscape where real and fake content coexist, blurring the lines between what is authentic and what is not. Jason Kebler delves into the world of AI-generated images flooding Facebook, highlighting how real accounts are sometimes taken over by bots to engage with this content, creating a surreal and challenging online environment.
State of Facebook and User Experience
While Facebook remains a dominant social platform with millions of users globally, its user experience has deteriorated due to the influx of AI-generated content and a decline in moderation. Users find themselves engaging with a mix of real and fake content, leading to a sense of disillusionment with the platform as it descends into a 'zombie internet' where meaningful interactions are overshadowed by spam and misinformation.
Monetization and Hijacking of Accounts
Individuals exploiting AI-generated content on Facebook often aim to build large followings to later sell their accounts or drive traffic to external sites for ad revenue or e-commerce schemes. Some accounts get hijacked, with real users unknowingly engaging with AI content, blurring the distinction between authentic and generated content, further complicating the online landscape.
Social Media Platform Challenges
The rampant spread of AI-generated content isn't limited to Facebook, as other social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn also grapple with similar challenges. With generative AI seeping into various online spaces, including ad-supported streaming platforms and search engines like Google, the integrity of online content is at stake, raising concerns about the future of the internet.
Role of Humans in the Digital Space
As AI-generated content proliferates, there is a growing sentiment against relying solely on algorithm-driven platforms. Human-created content, whether in journalism, art, or social media, faces a critical juncture where authenticity and human input are valued over AI-driven mass production. Engaging with real voices and supporting human-made content emerges as a vital response to combat the influx of AI-generated material across digital platforms.
Paris Marx is joined by Jason Koebler to discuss the AI-generated spam filling Facebook, how the platform seems to have given up trying to stop it, and where the internet goes from here.
Jason Koebler is the co-host of the 404 Media Podcast.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.
The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.
Also mentioned in this episode:
Jason wrote about his theory of the zombie internet and what he’s been seeing on Facebook.
Back in 2018, Motherboard reported on the rules Facebook gave its content moderators.
