Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Original poster

We will probably have to switch the internet off at some point in the next decade

158 replies

Cherrypi · 13/09/2026 19:19

I think we might need to temporarily switch the internet off at some point in the next decade to protect us from AI. Is that possible? What do you think would happen?

OP posts:

Badbadbunny · 14/09/2026 17:37

NeedBoosting · 14/09/2026 17:25

Blocking aspects needs an insane stretch to 'disable the whole thing'. If you said 'turn off' social media or something I'd agree it's perfectly possible (but still you'd never get it agreed by anywhere near enough people to do it!) but 'turning off' the internet is not just a stretch, it would be like proposing to 'disable' all roads completely for a while, it's that unfathomable to our current way of life. Just to pick one thing, we'd never get food distribution sorted for our current population without it, it would be a monumental task, and that's just one thing out of hundreds that would need to work without internet.

Show quote history

But even turning off social media would have disastrous consequences for huge numbers of self employed/businesses who rely on SM selling channels, which in turns has knock on effects for business support services, wholesalers, manufacturers, distribution networks, etc. Social media isn't just for people posting nonsense comments/pictures, it's a prime business channel for lots of people.

Laurmolonlabe · 14/09/2026 18:09

CheeryOP · 13/09/2026 23:12

It has happened previously in some other countries that authorities have temporarily cut internet and mobile communication services for various reasons including security

Being barred from the internet by your government is not the equivalent of turning the internet off- it just goes on without you.

Laurmolonlabe · 14/09/2026 18:09

CheeryOP · 13/09/2026 23:12

It has happened previously in some other countries that authorities have temporarily cut internet and mobile communication services for various reasons including security

Being barred from the internet by your government is not the equivalent of turning the internet off- it just goes on without you.

SomeoneIsWrongOnTheInternet · 14/09/2026 20:54

The catalogue of disasters you spout @Cherrypi makes me more and more convinced that everything has gone too far and we need it turned off now.

If we were a more capable civilisation before the internet, with much more robust processes and systems that did not collapse so easily, what have we gained??

BurntBroccoli · 14/09/2026 21:02

Nutmuncher · 13/09/2026 19:56

No we won’t OP. AI is going to transform civilisation in ways most people can not comprehend. There’s leaps and bounds coming in the near future that are going to significantly change society and how we do things. Be excited not scared!

Billionaire Tech bro takeover…

Hiredgun · 14/09/2026 21:12

Cherrypi · 13/09/2026 19:19

I think we might need to temporarily switch the internet off at some point in the next decade to protect us from AI. Is that possible? What do you think would happen?

I’m laughing at all these AI guys trying to boost their stock price with outrageous claims of curing cancer and taking over humans.

It is a huge bubble based on recycling the same invested cash. Sadly a recession will likely follow.

EBearhug · 14/09/2026 23:43

Cherrypi · 14/09/2026 09:23

It must be possible to go back to a pre internet existence. I don't think it would be easy but it must be possible for most people. Get fax machines out, use cash and bank tellers. How much of our utilities supplies work without the internet?

We used analogue systems which we've got rid of.

Nutmuncher · 15/09/2026 08:22