"Amazon Tribe That Even Avoided Kissing, Porn Addiction"... What Happened?

Internet Spread via Musk's Starlink
Benefits of Internet and Spread of Pornography and Violence
Rules Made at Tribal Level but Likely Insufficient

Thanks to geographical isolation, an Amazonian tribal village that had preserved its unique culture experienced various side effects such as pornography addiction after the introduction of high-speed internet.

Amazon Rainforest. [Image source=Getty Images]

The US daily The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 2nd (local time) that "Elon Musk's 'Starlink' connected the isolated Marubo tribe in the Amazon to the outside world but caused internal divisions." The Marubo tribe has lived in communal huts scattered hundreds of kilometers along the Itu? River deep in the Amazon rainforest. They use their own language, and all tribe members share the same surname. They also have unique customs such as worshipping forest spirits, catching spider monkeys to make soup or keep as pets. Thanks to their geographical isolation, they have preserved their own way of life for a long time.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

However, since last September, the Marubo tribe has undergone significant changes after gaining access to high-speed internet through Musk's low Earth orbit communication network project, Starlink. SpaceX, led by Musk, launched about 12,000 satellites in low Earth orbit with the goal of providing stable internet worldwide. Thanks to Starlink, regions like the Amazon, where high-speed internet was previously difficult to access, can now enjoy its benefits. The media pointed out, "The Marubo tribe shows what happens when a small, closed civilization suddenly opens to the world."

At first, the benefits of civilization made the tribe members happy, the media reported. China Marubo, a tribe member, said, "At first, the internet brought clear advantages such as video chatting with loved ones far away and requesting help in emergencies."

But over time, side effects emerged. China said, "Now, tribe members spend so much time on the internet that they don't even talk to their own families, and young people have become lazy and stopped working because of the internet." Furthermore, foreign media pointed out, "The real problem is that the spread of high-speed internet has led to people within the tribe becoming addicted to violent video games and pornography." Especially since minors can easily access such content, the problem has worsened with the increased likelihood of imitation. The foreign media noted, "The Marubo tribe is a 'pure' tribe that frowns upon even kissing in public places, but the standards of such 'etiquette' have changed due to the spread of the internet."

Ultimately, the Marubo tribe leaders, fearing the loss of their history and unique culture, established internet access restrictions: "2 hours every morning, 5 hours in the evening, and all day on Sundays." However, the media predicted that it would be difficult to return to the pre-internet era since many tribe members have already experienced the benefits and convenience of the internet. China also pleaded with reporters, "Please do not take the internet away from us."

Foreign media explained, "The internet is essential in the modern era, but there are certainly costs to pay. The Marubo tribe and other indigenous peoples who have resisted modernity for generations now face both the potential and risks of the internet and are discussing what the internet means for their identity and culture."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.