The internet is getting faker, sloppier, and scammier

In February 2026, we released Illusions of the Internet, which compiled 20 facts that highlighted the sheer volume of fake activity across the modern internet.

This follow-up report brings 12 additional realities to the table, like bot traffic, AI slop across advertising and website design, influencer follower fraud, and more.

You'll learn 12 unfortunate realities across these 4 components of the internet:

Audience
Advertising
Products & Services
Content

Why Download?

Regarding the internet, new investigations, lawsuits and fraud pop up almost daily, with slop and fake activity continuing to fester. This report puts everything into perspective.