The leaders of a remote tribe in the Amazon rainforest have shared their experiences with the challenges brought by the internet. They have discussed how problems like social media addiction, exposure to pornography, and falling for online scams have impacted their community.
After accessing Elon Musk's Starlink internet, the indigenous community encountered unforeseen difficulties, such as being exposed to explicit content such as pornography and violent video games, according to The New York Times.
What Happens When Remote Amazon Tribe Gets Connected to the Internet
The Marubo tribe, with around 2,000 members, resides deep in the Amazon rainforest along the Ituí River. For generations, the tribe maintained a way of life relatively untouched by modern technology.
The New York Times reports that this changed in September of the previous year when they were introduced to Starlink, the satellite internet service founded by Elon Musk's SpaceX.
Starlink has revolutionized internet access in remote locations worldwide, now including Marubo's secluded village. With over 6,000 low-orbiting satellites providing high-speed internet, even the most isolated areas, such as the Saharan desert and the Mongolian plains, are now online.
Starlink's rapid expansion is evident, boasting over three million customers across 99 countries and generating approximately $6.6 billion in annual sales, an 80% increase from the previous year.
The Marubo tribe received the necessary Starlink antennas as a donation from American entrepreneur Allyson Reneau. The internet was initially a boon. It allowed the tribe to make quick emergency calls, which proved lifesaving in cases such as venomous snake bites.
Additionally, it facilitated communication with other villages and distant family members, enhancing connectivity and providing new opportunities for autonomy and self-representation.
Amazon Tribe Faces New Challenges Brought by the Internet
However, alongside these benefits came unforeseen challenges. The tribe quickly grappled with issues that had long troubled modern societies.
Teenagers became glued to their phones, engaged in gossip-filled group chats, and spent hours on addictive social networks. More alarmingly, the tribe was exposed to violent video games, online scams, and misinformation.
One of the most concerning developments was the access to pornography. Alfredo Marubo, leader of a Marubo association of villages, expressed his worries about young people sharing explicit videos in group chats. This was a dramatic shift for a culture that traditionally frowns upon public displays of affection.
"We're worried young people are going to want to try it," Alfredo said, noting that some leaders had already observed more aggressive sexual behavior among young men.
The internet's influence on the Marubo's culture has been profound. As 73-year-old Tsainama Marubo lamented, "Young people have gotten lazy because of the internet. They're learning the ways of the white people."
Integrating modern technology into their daily lives has led to a fundamental dilemma for the tribe: balancing the undeniable benefits of connectivity with preserving their cultural identity.
According to the United Nations, over 476 million indigenous people are living in 90 countries, many of whom still lead isolated lives. Activists like Flora Dutra are hopeful that other remote tribes, such as Brazil's largest remote tribe, the Yanomami, will also gain internet access. This could provide similar benefits and undoubtedly similar challenges.
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