It used to be a 4chan copypasta. KnowYourMeme[0] says it started in 2019 but I want to say that I remember it well before 2016, maybe as early back as 2012 (?)
I guess the biggest thing to understand is that a lot of 4chan users (on /pol/ and /x/ and plenty other places) just make up stuff as bear-baiting pranks on their fellow users who are typically very vulnerable[1]. Dead internet theory is something that inherently appeals to people that feel put-out by society and ostracized from the rest of the internet at-large. People buy into this shtick because they feel as though the internet ignores them, or that coincidences in a pool of billions of users confirms that it's all The Matrix somehow. It's a very fast-and-loose mentality that traditionally strings together conspiracy theories to make a compelling narrative.
I'd suggest helping your family member find real-life support that affirms their faith in humanity. The internet is not all there is to life, and even if it was all controlled by a shadow organization there would still be reason for hope. With a bit of perspective, it's easy to see why total control over digital information is neither desirable nor entirely possible.
I guess the biggest thing to understand is that a lot of 4chan users (on /pol/ and /x/ and plenty other places) just make up stuff as bear-baiting pranks on their fellow users who are typically very vulnerable[1]. Dead internet theory is something that inherently appeals to people that feel put-out by society and ostracized from the rest of the internet at-large. People buy into this shtick because they feel as though the internet ignores them, or that coincidences in a pool of billions of users confirms that it's all The Matrix somehow. It's a very fast-and-loose mentality that traditionally strings together conspiracy theories to make a compelling narrative.
I'd suggest helping your family member find real-life support that affirms their faith in humanity. The internet is not all there is to life, and even if it was all controlled by a shadow organization there would still be reason for hope. With a bit of perspective, it's easy to see why total control over digital information is neither desirable nor entirely possible.
[0] https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/dead-internet-theory
[1] https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/832431-iphone