Tribes isolated in the Amazon rainforest appear to be suffering the effects of high-speed internet ever since Elon Musk’s Starlink gave them access to the World Wide Web.
The Malbo people living along the Itui River gained access to the internet in September 2023, which brought about a major change in their community. The New York Times report upon Sunday.
Tsainama Malbo, 73, said everyone was initially happy about the arrival of the internet because it meant neighbours could talk to loved ones far away and get help in case of an emergency.
But the situation is reportedly getting worse, she explained, with young people becoming lazy, but she also stressed that she does not want to deprive tribes of the internet.
of Times The article continues:
Just nine months after adopting Starlink, the Maluvo family is already dealing with the same challenges that have plagued American families for years: teenagers glued to their phones, gossip-filled group chats, addictive social networks, online strangers, violent video games, scams, misinformation and underage pornography.
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Alfredo Malbo, leader of the Malbo village association, has emerged as one of his tribe’s most vocal critics of the internet. The Malbo transmit their history and culture orally, and he worries that knowledge will be lost. “Everybody is so connected that sometimes we don’t even talk to our own families,” he said.
It’s pornography that worries him most. He said young men are sharing explicit videos in group chats, a startling development in a culture that frowns on kissing in public. “I worry that it will inspire young people to try it,” he said of the explicit sexual acts depicted in the videos. He said some mentors have told him they’re already seeing young men engaging in more aggressive sexual acts.
Addiction Center Define Social media addiction is defined as “an excessive interest in social media, an irresistible urge to log in and use social media, and spending so much time and effort on social media that it interferes with other important areas of life.”
The center also said social media addiction is similar to substance use disorders and can cause mood changes, salience (behavioral, cognitive and emotional preoccupation with social media), tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict and relapse.
A 2016 study found that the more time young people spend on social media, the more likely they are to suffer from depression, according to Breitbart News.
Musk launched Starlink in May over the Indonesian island of Bali, according to the Associated Press.
“Indonesia, a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands spanning three time zones and home to a population of more than 270 million, has been trying for years to secure a battery investment deal for Musk’s Tesla and a deal for his SpaceX to provide high-speed internet to remote parts of the country,” the article said.
