Breathe
By Lourdes Encinas
The dead internet theory, known in English as dead internet theory, states that much of the content and activity we see today on the network is artificial, generated by bots, algorithms and artificial intelligence, rather than being created by humans. This phenomenon would be driven by governments and large corporations to manipulate public opinion and consumer trends.
While this is a conspiracy theory, without solid evidence to back it up, it is not entirely unreasonable in terms of the manipulation of social narratives to further political and economic interests, a subject I have addressed in previous columns.
I am convinced that the last positive collective initiative we did on the internet was the Ice Bucket Challenge, the 2014 challenge that consisted of donating money for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) research or pouring a bucket of ice water over yourself. Celebrities, athletes and people from all over the world joined the challenge, raising more than 115 million globally for this purpose.
After that, for me, the decline of digital platforms began(OK, Boomer): social networks were flooded with absurd challenges, idyllic and unrealistic lifestyles, conspiracies, anti-vaccine, terraplanists, fake news, intrusive advertising, misinformation, hate speech and influencers with a lot of popularity, but nothing of substance.
However, even in this decadence, every once in a while a story emerges that reminds us of the positive power that the Internet can have. Such is the case of Macario Martínez, a young street sweeper from Mexico City who has become a viral success, captivating thousands of people with his indie-folk music.
As he has told in interviews, Macario entered the cleaning service in the Mexican capital after not being able to enter university to study theater. He had previously recorded songs in an almost handmade way, with no more resources than his cell phone and adaptations at home to improve the sound, which did not capture the public's attention.
On January 27, 2024, he uploaded a video to his TikTok account, dressed as a street sweeper, with his song Sueña lindo, corazón in the background and with the caption: "La vida pide mucho y yo nomás soy un barrendero que quiere que escuches su música" (Life asks a lot and I'm just a street sweeper who wants you to listen to his music). By February 18 of the same year, the video accumulated 4.4 million likes and had opened the door to a new world of possibilities with recording offers, concert performances and collaborations with other artists.
The combination of her natural talent, the authenticity she reflects, and the simplicity of her craft struck a chord with audiences in need of positive stories. It is a perfect example of when social media delivers on its original promise of connecting talent with opportunity and allowing valuable voices to find their place in the world.
