After Starlink brings internet to Amazon jungles, tribes get addicted to social media and porn
Some village elders have noted a decline in interest in traditional activities among the younger generation since the arrival of the internet.
In today’s digital age, almost everyone is connected, and thanks to Elon Musk’s Starlink, even distant tribes in the Amazon jungles may now use the internet.
The Marubo tribe in Brazil’s rural Amazon just received access to high-speed internet using Starlink, a SpaceX product that employs low-orbit satellites to provide internet in inaccessible places.
This enhanced connectivity presents both opportunities and challenges. While the internet allows for improved communication, emergency response, and education, it also provides distractions and problems such as disinformation and pornography addiction.
Journalist Jack Nicas and photographer Victor Moriyama from the New York Times visited the Marubo villages, traveling about 50 miles into the rainforest. They observed the tribe grappling with maintaining their traditional culture while adapting to the digital world.
Some village elders have noted a decline in interest in traditional activities among the younger generation since the arrival of the internet. One elder mentioned that people have become “lazy” and are “learning the ways of the white people,” yet she still supports keeping internet access.
Tribal leader Enoque Marubo, a strong advocate for internet access, acknowledged the initial negative impact on hunting and fishing activities. To manage this, the tribe has implemented internet usage limits: two hours in the morning, five hours in the evening, and additional time on Sundays.
The internet has sparked debates among Marubo leaders. Alfredo Marubo, head of a Marubo association, expressed concern about young men sharing explicit content and playing violent video games. These issues clash with the tribe’s traditional values, which discourage public displays of affection and violence.
Despite these challenges, the internet provides significant benefits. It improves communication between villages, enhances safety by allowing quick alerts for potential dangers, and offers new job and educational opportunities. In emergencies, such as snake bites, the tribe can now call for helicopter evacuations, potentially saving lives.
The Marubo tribe lives in the upper Amazon Basin along the Ituí River in Brazil. They were first contacted by rubber tappers in the 19th century and were not entirely isolated before Starlink. The introduction of Starlink antennas has given them greater autonomy and connectivity with the outside world.
Starlink has extended internet access to other remote regions globally, including the Sahara, the Mongolian grasslands, and conflict zones like Ukraine. It also serves rural areas in Canada, providing internet where land-based infrastructure is unavailable.
As of May, Elon Musk announced that Starlink had reached over 3 million customers in 99 countries. The Marubo tribe’s experience highlights both the potential and the complexities of bringing the digital world to remote communities.
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