Social media thinks men have better access to the dark web, X users chime in with hilarious comments

The dark web pretty much seems like something you would find while going down a digital hole. It sounds like the internet's sleazy cousin who comes to a family gathering to make everyone feel awkward.

The hush-hush probably has gotten to you–– a murmur about that shadowy part of the web, where practically everything goes and anything is for sale. What is it, really? Is it that bad?

One X user spilled the tea: “The way men all seem to automatically know how to access ‘the dark web’ has always been slightly unsettling to me.”

Another user hilariously clapped back, “I’ve never met a single person who knows how to do this by the way.”

And then came the knockout punch: “If all the men you know have access to the dark web, I’m gonna assume that you’re just as creepy as they are 😂 Because what are the odds ???”

A user humorously commented: "I think it’s a her thing."

A user added: "I don't know how to or have never met anyone who can do this either."

One user noted: "Maizie knows all the wrong men."

A comment read: "Yeah I’ve never accessed the dark web. I have, however, run into many a spiderweb in the dark. So I have that going for me."

Another comment read: "What kind of men r u hanging around LMFAO thats something u take to the grave."

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The mystery behind the dark web

First things first, the dark web is not directly hiding in your Chrome browser; you will need a more underground source like Tor (The Onion Router) to enter it.

The whole idea behind this setup is anonymity, and users can go about their surfing without leaving any digital footprints.

The term "dark web" first hit the scene in 2009, mostly linked to illegal shenanigans—drugs, weapons, you name it.

Then came cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which provided these activities with an anonymous payment method.

Silk Road is not unknown, after all. The infamous marketplace, which had a great debut in 2011 thanks to Ross Ulbricht, went on to become the Amazon of black markets before being shut down by the FBI in 2013. That is when its revenue reached $1.2 billion and above.

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Just how big is this dark web?

It’s not as massive as the movies make it seem. In fact, the dark web is less than 0.01% of the entire internet.

There are about 45,000 dark web sites, a drop in the ocean compared to the billions on the surface web. Special browsers like Tor anonymize your activity by bouncing your data through multiple servers.

If you’re thinking it sounds like a scene from a hacker movie, you’re not far off. But in reality, it’s mostly just a lot of cloak and dagger for what might be underwhelming results.

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How dark is the dark web?

Sure, there are some legitimate reasons to dive into the dark web. Political dissidents, for instance, use it to escape surveillance in oppressive regimes. But much of the dark web’s traffic isn’t exactly noble.

Drug Trafficking: Silk Road and all its followers have provided a venue for massive drug sales.

Child Exploitation: The volume of traffic made up of child exploitation and illegal pornography is appalling.

Cybercrime: Hack services, stolen data, and compromised user information from platforms like ChatGPT are sold here. (Yep, not even your innocent chatbot is safe!)

Terrorism: Terrorist groups have adopted the dark web to spread propaganda, raise funds in cryptocurrencies and obtain anonymity.

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To browse, or not to browse?

The dark web raises a classic privacy vs. security debate. While proponents argue that it is necessary for free speech and privacy, especially in authoritarian states, critics say that it breeds crime, making law enforcement's life a nightmare.

So, is the dark web as fearsome as it is portrayed to be? It's a mix of eerie, illicit, and, some would say, mystique that has been overhyped.

If you’re not involved in espionage or dodging an authoritarian government, you’re probably better off sticking to the good ol' surface web.