Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Imminent Death Of The Net Predicted!
     
         Since {Usenet} first got off the ground in
        1980-81, it has grown exponentially, approximately doubling in
        size every year.  On the other hand, most people feel the
        {signal-to-noise ratio} of {Usenet} has dropped steadily.
        These trends led, as far back as mid-1983, to predictions of
        the imminent collapse (or death) of the net.  Ten years and
        numerous doublings later, enough of these gloomy
        prognostications have been confounded that the phrase
        "Imminent Death Of The Net Predicted!" has become a running
        joke, hauled out any time someone grumbles about the {S/N
        ratio} or the huge and steadily increasing volume, or the
        possible loss of a key node or link, or the potential for
        lawsuits when ignoramuses post copyrighted material etc.
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1998-09-24)