The Trend of Returning to the "Old Internet" (timestripe.com)

...and there are numerous shadow players who create AI tools that simulate activity in these (because they are not algorithmic driven, it's much harder to weed them out vs say on Facebook), and even hire people (sometimes in crowds!) to work as "grinders" to pretend that there is an active community about something.

Whenever something is not overtly commoditised, it becomes covertly commoditised - becoming an engine for scam and crime.