Addiction to pornography and mobile phones - Amazonian community is connected online - encountering issues similar to ours almost immediately
"A teen chats on Instagram, parents worry about the dangers of first-person shooters, and everyone is addicted to their phones." This is a reality becoming common in the Western world, and now it can be seen among the indigenous people living in the Brazilian rainforest as well. Thanks to satellite connections, the internet has reached even the most remote regions of the earth. And in just a few months, the remote Marubo tribe has undergone a complete transformation into the digital age, with all its consequences.
"When the internet first arrived, everyone was very happy," recalls Tsainama Marubo to the "New York Times." "Then it got worse." In a month-long trek in flip-flops, carriers brought 20 satellite receivers from Elon Musk's Starlink service to the remote settlement of the tribe deep in the Javari Valley. Bordering Peru, the Javari Valley is a massive area the size of Austria where some of the world's most isolated tribes live, with no roads, infrastructure, and sometimes even contact with the outside world. Now with the internet.
Starlink: The Internet Arrives with a Splash
The sudden arrival of the modern world has shaken the traditional society of the 2,000 Marubo. "The young people have become lazy because of the internet," complains the 73-year-old Tsainama, who, along with all Marubo, uses her tribal name as a surname. "They behave like whites." Many have lost interest in traditional life in a very short time. However, she cannot deny the pros. "Don't take the internet away from us."
The man responsible for bringing the internet to the jungle is following in his father's footsteps. Enoque Marubo's father brought the first outboard motor to his people in the 1960s, and his son is now doing the same. The 40-year-old tribal leader lived in the city for a while, worked as a graphic designer for Coca-Cola. When he learned about Starlink, he recognized the potential for his people, he said. In a video, he addressed Elon Musk directly and contacted almost 50 U.S. congressmen. He eventually found an ally in motivational speaker and tech consultant Allyson Reneau, who paid for 20 Starlink systems for the tribe out of her own pocket.
Porn Instead of Hunting
The arrival of the internet immediately changed the dynamics of the tribe. From a life of seclusion, it became one with constant connection. On the first day, everyone who already had a smartphone for visiting the city spent the entire day in front of the screen. Then, more and more got a smartphone, often with help from government funds.
"Everyone is so connected that many hardly speak to their own family," complains Alfredo Marubo, who as a tribal leader leads a group of Marubo villages. Others also see the downsides: Constant connectivity has given rise to gossip, addictions to violent online games, and young people watching porn.
Pornography, in particular, is a significant concern. In the Marubo society, a public kiss is already frowned upon, and many fear the explicitness of the pornography industry. There are reports that young men are becoming more sexually aggressive.
Even Enoque Marubo (the man who brought the internet to the jungle) must admit the negative consequences. "It has caused our routines to change so much that it became harmful," he acknowledges. "If you don't hunt, fish, or farm in the village, there's nothing to eat." To protect his people, he's placed a barrier in front of the permanent connection. The satellite installations now have fixed usage times: two hours in the morning, five in the evening, and the internet is only turned on on Sundays.
However, the internet ambassador is convinced that the right decision was made. His people now have increased access to education, easier communication outside the village, and it's been a lifesaver in emergencies. In the past, one had to make a distress call by radio from one place to another until a helicopter finally arrived. Now, the connection is set up in no time. "It has already saved lives," explains Enoque Marubo.
At the tribal meeting about the effects, opinions are divided. Some young people complain they're too addicted to their smartphones and traditions are struggling. There's often conflict due to misunderstandings in chats. "I don't want my words to be misunderstood," complains a tribal leader when requesting that the connection be turned off during the meeting. Others are on their phones, while a few watch a soccer game.
The arrival of the internet was predicted by a shaman, reports Enoque's father, Sebastião Marubo, who once brought an outboard motor over from the reporter. A shaman had predicted years ago that a small device would one day connect the tribe with the whole world. "At first, it would be good," he prophesied. "But eventually it wouldn't be," adding, "Then the war would come."
Source: New York Times.
