AI 'Slop' Crisis Threatens Social Ad Models, Forcing Economic Reckoning

The deluge of low-quality, AI-generated 'slop' marks a critical inflection point for social media, moving beyond mere spam to fundamentally challenge platform integrity. As the cost of content creation collapses, automated posts are flooding user feeds, devaluing human-made updates and threatening the core user experience. This isn't just a content moderation issue; it's a systemic shock that questions the viability of platforms built on user-generated content, forcing a strategic response.

This trend directly pressures established platforms like Meta and X, whose engagement metrics risk being irrevocably polluted by non-human activity. The immediate implications include eroding user trust and providing a competitive opening for closed ecosystems or platforms that can guarantee content authenticity. The core risk is a flight of advertising revenue as brands refuse to pay for placement amid a sea of low-quality, automated content, forcing a major industry-wide reassessment of value.