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Remote tribe gets internet access, immediate porn addiction

I’ve been to the Amazon and experienced its remote wonderland. I remember standing in a lush rainforest, in the warm, humid air, surrounded by the sounds of exotic birds. The people are wonderful and almost childlike in their trusting nature. But let me tell you, I still get chills thinking of the swarms of bullet ants that grow over an inch long, fishing for piranhas and avoiding tons of snakes.

For hundreds of years, the Brazilian Marubo tribe of about 2,000 people has lived deep in one of the most remote parts of the Amazon rainforest, cut off from outsiders and without many modern technologies.

But life for the tribe changed nine months ago, when American entrepreneur Allyson Reneau thought it would be a great idea to give the tribe Elon Musk’s satellite-based Starlink internet access. A few Marubo tribe members had phones they used to take photos or when they went into a city, but there was no internet there at all.

It started out with a click …

When Starlink was first installed, the tribe used it in great ways. They got help for snakebites that turn deadly without speedy intervention. The Marubo connected with other local tribes and stayed in touch with family and friends who’d moved away.

Younger tribe members expanded their horizons, getting a peek into life outside their small, remote community. Suddenly, teens had big dreams, from becoming a dentist in the big city to traveling the world.

But then, things changed big time

The younger tribe members found and quickly became addicted to porn, social media and video games. They started sharing all kinds of explicit videos in group chats and getting sexually aggressive. The Marubo don’t even kiss in public.

People of all ages now have trouble putting down their phones. Tribe members have also been falling victim to scams since they’ve never seen or heard of them before.

An older member says when the internet first arrived, “Everyone was happy, but now, things have gotten worse. Young people have gotten lazy … In the village, if you don’t hunt, fish and plant, you don’t eat.”

The internet has made the tribe addicted and divided.

The tribe’s fix: Screen-time limits

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Pretty pearly whites

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Try this one-week all-natural whitening kit ($22.99) to kick it off. Social media stars have been all over it to get their chompers camera‑ready.
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We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Your social media profiles should be private: Unless you’re a public figure, there’s no reason to let anyone and everyone see your posts. On Facebook, click your profile pic in the top right > Settings & privacy > Settings. Choose an option under Audience and visibility. Steps for IG here.

Like it or not, on X, the likes are gone

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Why did the social media platform decide to ditch the like button? I’ll give you the scoop.

The “perfect meal” has three things: Caesar salad, fries and an ice-cold martini. Social media is calling it the “NYC happy meal.” I call it the “magic eraser,” guaranteed to delete the stress of the week. What’s your perfect food and bev combo? Reply and let me know!

In our age of filters and photo-editing apps, what is the percentage of truly unedited, unaltered photos posted to social media? Is it … A.) 5%, B.) 12.5%, C.) 20% or D.) 27%?

Click here for the answer! →

The damage is done: The U.S. surgeon general is asking Congress to put warning labels on social media, like those found on cigarettes. With 95% of kids using social media and more than one-third addicted, this is way too little, way too late.

When a bot is not a bot: People are calling folks a “bot” when they don’t agree with them or they question their intelligence. It’s getting political, too. Research shows it’s largely left-leaners hurling it at right-leaners who speak up on social media.

👜 This season’s hottest bag? A $3.99 Trader Joe’s insulated tote that folks are reselling for up to $100. Since launching on June 4, it’s completely sold out in stores across California. Ah, the classic “limited-time” in-store exclusive strikes again. Social media can hype up anything, including this lunchbox.

🚨 Russian propaganda: The Kremlin is using deepfakes, fake news sites and social media attacks to undermine the upcoming U.S. elections. “D.C. Weekly,” “Boston Times” and “Election Watch” are just some of the names of their fake outlets. Stick to trusted news sources. It’s going to get a lot worse in the coming months.

Your digital twin could save your life

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You have a digital twin you haven’t met yet — a virtual replica of yourself that can predict health issues and offer personalized advice. Here’s the scoop. Plus, be aware of piano scams, kids and social media addiction, and the risk of falling for phone scams.

Amazon tribe got the internet for the first time

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How did it turn out? For many men in the tribe, it led to addiction to social media and porn. More to this story in this short podcast.

If it’s not a mother or father, it’s not a parent: Chip and Joanna Gaines, the former HGTV stars known for the hit show “Fixer Upper,” just said they have a strict no-social-media policy for their five kids until the summer before college. Now, juxtapose this sage advice with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s 10-year-old daughter, North, who has 19.2 million followers on TikTok. If you thought yesterday’s child stars were screwed up, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Social media is overrun with pics and videos of celebs: These product endorsements are mostly AI-generated scams. Recently impersonated? Jennifer Lopez pushing skincare, Tom Hanks promoting a dental plan and MrBeast hawking iPhones. Don’t fall for it. Look for reviews, don’t buy directly from social media, and stick to well-known brands.

📉 This is wild: The general feeling about the U.S. economy is gloomier today than in 2008. Oof. You can blame social media and their algorithms. Most economic news sources focus on the doom and gloom, despite the actual data. Cut down on the scrolling and spend more time with the people you love most.

Ex-con man Frank Abagnale on AI

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He’s one of the most famous imposters ever. Now, he says, artificial intelligence is going to bring on a whole new wave of scams. Plus, a dangerous selfie fail, social media sperm donors, and robberies on Facebook Marketplace.

Fake business grants are on the rise: Red flags: You got it without applying, they contacted you on social media, and/or you’ve never heard of the “federal agency” behind the grant. They may also ask for upfront payments, say the funds can be used for “anything,” and then ask for personal info you already sent in your application. Watch out.

Strikeout: A gullible 70-year-old woman was fooled by an online scammer posing as Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. After weeks of messaging with “Trea,” the scammer got the woman to send him $50,000 under the guise of “marriage problems.” The lesson: Don’t just watch out for phishing emails and DMs; you’re also a target when you comment on social media posts.

Careful what you post: Criminals are crawling social media accounts for videos of folks talking. Just 10 seconds is enough for AI tools to rip off your voice to scam loved ones and break into voice-authorized accounts. Come up with a safeword with your family to use if they ever get a distressed-sounding call from “you.”

Put down your phone: … after you finish this newsletter. Researchers found scrolling social media for just 15 minutes less improved subjects’ health, immunity, sleep, anxiety, depression and loneliness.