Not sure if I believe this hypothesis yet, just putting it out there.
Sure, the internet is in many ways less diverse than it used to be. But aforementioned effect might also be in play: as we get older, it becomes increasingly harder to have novel experiences. Take note also of the "seen it all"-attitude in the beginning of the post.
It's a nice thought-experiment regardless. It might theoretically be possible for an AI to "live" on the internet and perhaps manipulate us or something. Fun thing is, the west would believe it's the east, and the east would assume it's the west doing it. So in that hostility and non-openess of the "world powers" may be found some shade for another entity to hide.
Combine that with the repeated insistence on people not existing on the Internet and it really gives me the feeling that the writer is trying to apply a Capgras delusion[1] to the entire Internet.
I post to daily play by play post Pathfinder game on paizo.com. I'm pretty sure my players are real. If not, AI is already way what's bee advertised.
I interact regularly with people FB, before Covid, I hosted stuff on meetup.com and I'll be back doing that soon. All of my various, current circles of friends were met using some Internet elements (whether FB or seeing a local ad, etc).
In 2007, the Internet was an edgy hobby for me, now it's just the medium. It seems like the poster is upset that "ordinary" people do ordinary things on the Internet.
Wake up sheeple the lizzards are here!
