In the dense Amazon rainforest resides an indigenous, remote tribe that speaks its own language and has preserved its distinct culture for thousands of years. However, their isolated existence has been breached by a technological marvel – Elon Musk’s groundbreaking Starlink satellite internet service.
Yet, this newfound connection brings a dilemma, resonating through the elders’ concerns and influencing the tribe’s evolving dynamics.
A media outlet visited the Marubos, a 2,000-member tribe connecting with the world through the internet for the first time. Billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink provides internet to remote locations or areas with disabled traditional communication infrastructure via low-Earth orbit satellites.
Internet services reached the depths of the Amazon jungle in September last year with the launch of Starlink in Brazil.
“When it arrived, everyone was happy,” 73-year-old Tsainama Marubo told the New York. The internet brought clear benefits, such as video chats with distant loved ones and the ability to call for help in emergencies. “But now, things have gotten worse,” she said.
“Young people have gotten lazy because of the internet,” she said. “They’re learning the ways of the white people.” She then added, “But please don’t take our internet away.”
The tribe now faces a fundamental dilemma: balancing the uses of the internet with its impact on their culture. The youth are now hooked on their phones—chatting with friends, glued to screens, and accessing pornography and misinformation.
Alfredo Marubo, leader of a Marubo association of villages, has become the tribe’s most vocal critic of the internet. He is particularly unsettled by the proliferation of pornography. Young men are sharing explicit videos in group chats, a shocking development for a culture that disapproves of public kissing. “We’re worried young people are going to want to try it,” he said, referring to the graphic sex depicted in the videos. He also mentioned that some leaders had reported observing more aggressive sexual behavior from young men.
While some parents are pleased that their children will now receive an education, concerns about the negative aspects of the internet persist. The antennas were gifted to the tribe by American entrepreneur Allyson Reneau.
The advent of the internet is also viewed positively by the remote tribe, enabling them to quickly contact authorities for help in emergencies, such as potentially deadly snake bites.
A member of the tribe mentioned that a venomous snake bite often requires swift rescue by helicopter. Before the internet, the Marubo used amateur radio, relaying messages between several villages to reach authorities. The internet made such calls instantaneous. “It’s already saved lives,” he said.
Another member expressed that the internet could grant his people greater independence. It would allow them to improve communication, educate themselves, and share their own narratives.
