What Is the ‘Indian Internet Theory’?

You’ve heard about the “Dead Internet Theory,” but what about the “Indian Internet Theory”?

Published 2 months ago in Wtf

Users on X were shocked earlier this week when it was revealed that an account called “Polish Empire,” which claims to promote “deliberately, unapologetically, arrogantly, and shamelessly unforgiven Polish takes,” was revealed to be run by a man in India.

Indian Internet Theory https://t.co/Sj1rmFek9l
— jake rhodes (@jakebrodes) September 20, 2025

While many expressed surprise at this reveal, others said that it was another marker of something they’ve called the “Indian Internet Theory.” This theory posits that, rather than bots having an outsized imprint on the internet, it’s instead netizens in India.

This isn’t really a problem, per se, but most people tend to find it a bit strange, especially given the topics upon which many of these accounts put their focus. For example, a right-wing X account called “Inevitable West” was revealed to be run by an Indian crypto scammer earlier this year, and numerous other accounts, which post primarily rage-bait, have accidentally outed themselves after having a little bit too deep of knowledge about Indian affairs.

He's not hiding that he's Indian anymore. pic.twitter.com/cfr2bkRjrb
— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) June 4, 2025

Why are they doing this? There are a few theories. The first is simply “for internet clout.” The second is, naturally, for a payday. Some social media sites like X will pay verified users for having posts that go viral — and, in a country where the average salary is around $350 USD per month, that money can go a long way.

All of this is to say, just because someone’s profile says they’re a “proud Texan,” that doesn’t mean they’re not secretly posting from Bengaluru.