In 2017, a significant portion of the Internet knew Adam Ellis as a celebrity illustrator Buzzfeed. But suddenly one of his posts on X (to Twitter), made him famous for another reason. The artist began to describe how what began as a recurring nightmare soon turned into a terrifying experience on all levels. This is when the mysterious presence that had seemingly followed them everywhere began to physically manifest around them. What’s even more sinister: become so real that Ellis could photograph, record, and even interact in certain ways with the supposed ghost. Thus was born one of these recent urban legends.
All of the above was written as in timeline on Twitter, as in several videos on the platform and even in a movie. Dear David, released in 2023, essentially told a story that the cartoonist shared on his social media. But also, it took the story to a new dimension. Become part of the most unique urban legends on the Internet. Moreover, he is able to capture the obsession of an entire generation with the realm of the mysterious. now linked to modern communication tools.
But, of course, this is not the only outlandish story that has become part of the history of the network and the world. online. We leave you with five of the craziest urban legends on the Internet. From exploring the very essence of the Internet as you know it, through a rumor that became a legend in itself, to a horror story. A whole collection of rare glimpses into what lives behind the computer screen.
The Internet is dead
One of the most controversial urban legends, later also transformed into a conspiracy theory, claims that all content on the Internet is artificial. In other words, for several years now, everything that is published is created bots, robots and, more recently, artificial intelligence.
This would mean that the Internet, as it was designed for exchange between the world’s population, was dead. And that it has been replaced by a copy designed to preserve users and everyone who has the ability to connect, isolated and manipulated by prefabricated discussions and contradictions.
This is an old discussion that eventually became a trending discussion on the forum. McIntosh Cafe from Agora Road in 2021. But the first insinuations that everything shared was a lie and alienated from power tendencies appeared on 4Chan in 2017. With the advent of large platforms, the urban legend has transformed, giving way to the possibility that this landscape of false information will be converted into money. That is, having managed to influence clicks And loves, in the interests of corporations, advertising and other power agents.
What’s true about the legend?
According to several studies conducted by the Computer Security Network Imperva, Half of internet traffic is the result of bots. However, the same study clarifies that they can be identified and that this is in fact a problem that most platforms struggle with. Despite this, much of the content—and user reactions to it—is organic. This means that while the Internet is fertile ground for games and practices of questionable ethics, the majority of users are still human.
Covering up extraterrestrial life
This urban legend, which has dozens of different variations, agrees on one thing: the most powerful governments in the world have come into contact with aliens. Moreover, this possibility extends to the fact that it is a stable connection that has allowed various power structures to obtain technologies and hyper-technical weapons. Therefore, any observation of what is now called FANI (anomalous unidentified phenomena), must be hidden by a complex apparatus of power.
Urban legend, one of the oldest, most recurrent and complex, ranges from government organizations searching for witnesses to collaboration with alien beings. All wrapped up in persistent denial, minimization and disparagement of any trace, clue or indication that leads to doubt in the official version. This: there is still no way to prove that there is intelligent life beyond our planet.
What is true in the legend?
As crazy as it may seem, it is an urban legend so widespread that it is even linked to debates in the US Congress and even legal processes for access to information on the issue. In fact, in 2023, Congress held a hearing on the record with the participation of David Grush, a US Air Force officer and former intelligence agent. During his speech, the official said that, without a doubt, the United States. he had evidence and what he called “non-human material.”
However, there is no evidence – other than the sworn testimony of various scientists and military personnel – of this possibility. In fact, the urban legend can be traced back to New Mexico in 1947. This continued until the well-known incident where an unidentified object crashed in the region. After decades of debate, the US government admitted that it was part of Project Mughal. This included a series of balloons designed for surveillance and espionage. However, despite a detailed report by the North American Air Force, the legend of an alien ship in the hands of the government has given rise to a number of speculations. Which are still relevant today.
The boy who found himself in the fourth dimension
On January 5, 2010, YouTuber xkcdHatGuy published his first video on his platform channel. Graduated The Fourth Dimension Explained by a High School Studentdelved deeply into the complex concepts of quantum physics. But he did it so pleasantly, interestingly and accessiblely that he immediately became an Internet celebrity. Much more, one of the most interesting voices The youth aspect of disseminating science to the new generation is little exploited.
Although HatJiu has never been a consistent content creator, he has published more videos, always focusing on theoretical physics theories. The most amazing thing was that although he looked like a teenager, his scientific knowledge was vast and deep. So much so that in six months his content would gain more than ten million views. This figure did not increase again in the next three years.
Then the inexplicable happened. On December 20, 2013, the user shared his last video and then disappeared. Including his YouTube channel, it seems, has simply remained abandoned. The young celebrity didn’t have much of an online presence – except for audiovisual content – and what little was found was also lacking in information. The absence immediately gave rise to all sorts of theories. The most popular and common one is that the user, about whom nothing was known except his name, disappeared into the fourth dimension. Or, most ominously, that the authorities made him disappear. explore knowledge that was considered dangerous.
What is true in the legend?
In fact, the explanation for the disappearance of the YouTuber is simpler and more down-to-earth than one might expect. On September 4, 2019, HatGuy returned to a new channel. And he said that everything that happened happened because of the diagnosis of autism and depression. Which triggered a complex mental health crisis. Soon after, he forgot the password to access his account and in the midst of all the changes which required recovery, he abandoned his calling as a popularizer.
Today, married and studying alternative medicine, he devotes his time and effort to searching for what he calls the ultimate theory of health. This is nothing but a simple formula to stay sane and physically strong. lor it made him abandon theoretical physics and concentrate on physiology and medicine.
Birds aren’t real
This is one of the most atypical and extravagant urban legends on the Internet. Which, of course, led to the emergence of conspiracy theories that reflect our understanding of the nature and relationships of modern power. As the premise suggests, all birds are drones specialized in spying on citizens – first American, global, then – and converted into modern weapons.
What’s even stranger is that the theory tries to prove its truth by examining seemingly mysterious points. From the fact that some birds have feather patterns that look more like industrial designs than natural coloring, to the question of the unusual behavior of some species. The truth is that this urban legend is something of a look at the absurdity and modern obsession with privacy. Particularly paranoia about the use of force and its benefits.
What is true in the legend?
As you might expect, this urban legend is not true. But its origin is perhaps one of the most interesting. Birds aren’t real is a movement developed by Peter McIndoe, who began spreading the idea as a joke in 2017. Intention? Parodic disinformation by demonstrating that any opportunity With enough support, this can be accepted as truth.
Something the creator put effort into, buying billboards and vans with his motto in real life. McIndoe said his efforts demonstrate that unsubstantiated conspiracies and legends are based on gullibility. But also, in arrogance and the need for opinion groups to impose oneself on others.
Elites and insects
Nowadays, most medical recommendations include eating healthier. This is especially true for the consumption of plants and legumes. This is to promote better functioning of certain organs as well as, to avoid overexploitation of ecosystems.
The above has spawned one of the most unique urban legends on the internet. According to several online forums, including, of course, 4Chan, the goal is to get the population to eat insects. Especially when this need seems to be based on a level of control. Which includes a series of terrifying anecdotes about the possibility that there is a whole mechanism for controlling the physically and morally weakened masses.
One of the most alarming theories is that all of the above is leading to the so-called Great Reset. This is nothing less than the future system of government – stable henceforth – in which the world becomes instead enslaved by power and knowledge.
What is true in the legend?
In this case, there is not a single truthful element in the story. Moreover, it is a hoax that has become an internet legend, especially among climate change deniers. Also quite a trendwho opposes any type of diet that excludes the consumption of meat.
Source: Hiper Textual
