Is the Internet Broken?
As online life becomes saturated with ads, misinformation, and AI-generated content, many question the internet's current state and future.
Approximately 75% of the world's population now has internet access, a connectivity that has brought numerous benefits. However, a growing sentiment suggests the online experience is deteriorating due to an influx of advertisements, the spread of misinformation, a rise in AI-generated content, and pervasive online toxicity.
These issues have led many to question whether the internet, as it currently exists, is functioning as intended or if it is, in fact, broken. This concern is being explored through discussions featuring prominent figures such as Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Matthew Williams from Hatelab, author and activist Cory Doctorow, and Adele Zeynep Walton from the Logging Off Club. Students at the University of Cardiff also contributed to the exploration of this topic, which was documented in a film by Daniel Nils Roberts for BBC Ideas.