The proliferation of low-quality content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pressing concern on social media platforms. This phenomenon, often referred to as “AI slop,” encompasses a wide range of content, including videos, images, audio, and text, created with little regard for accuracy or quality. According to Adam Nemeroff, a technologist at Quinnipiac University, AI slop is characterized as “low-to mid-quality content created with AI tools, often with little regard for accuracy.”

Research conducted by SEO firm Graphite found that 52 percent of articles online are generated by AI. The study’s findings suggest that AI-generated content is not limited to articles, but also extends to other types of content, such as social media posts and advertisements. Ethan Smith, CEO of Graphite, notes that the ease of generating text using AI tools makes it likely that a significant portion of tweets and other online content are AI-generated.

The prevalence of AI slop on social media platforms has significant implications for the online experience. Aidan Walker, an internet culture researcher, suggests that the sheer volume of low-quality content can degrade online spaces, making it difficult for users to find high-quality content. Walker notes that the proliferation of AI slop is driven by the ease of creation and the potential for financial gain, rather than a genuine attempt to create meaningful content.

While not all AI-generated content is of poor quality, the majority of AI slop is created with the intention of grabbing attention rather than providing value to the user. This has led to a situation where users are forced to wade through large amounts of low-quality content to find something of value. The impact of AI slop on the online experience is likely to be significant, and it remains to be seen how social media platforms will address this issue.

In response to the growing concern over AI slop, some social media platforms are exploring ways to identify and filter out AI-generated content. For example, TikTok has announced plans to help users spot AI-generated content on its platform. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, and it is likely that the issue of AI slop will continue to be a major challenge for social media platforms in the coming years.