Can you believe it? The iconic Burning Man festival, once a bastion of radical self-expression and community, seems to be facing a slow but sure demise, and the latest nail in its coffin comes straight from the tech heavens. Yes, you guessed it—Elon Musk’s Starlink is now supplying internet to festival-goers, and it’s shaking up the whole experience. In 2025, the spirit of Burning Man is holding on by a thread as Silicon Valley relentlessly tries to extinguish its flame.
Imagine this: a regular attendee, Kevin LeVezu, a photographer who runs a camp called iForgot, has introduced a new twist to his desert outpost—WiFi! With a shiny Starlink terminal, he’s offering internet access, but there’s a catch. To hop online, attendees have to make a quirky sacrifice. Picture this: one day, Burners could choose between taking a shot of whiskey or getting spanked before logging on. This bizarre price tag might sound outrageous, but apparently, it’s a price that many were willing to pay.
The whole idea of disconnecting at Burning Man has been fading away long before LeVezu’s hotspot made its debut. Back in 2018, SFGate reported on Burners lamenting the increasing cellular reception in the remote Nevada desert. Gone are the days when people would truly disconnect; now, you could find attendees FaceTiming during the closing ceremony or playing Pokémon Go in the middle of the day. Even then, companies were offering 4G LTE hubs to help people stay connected. Fast forward to 2025, and with Starlink in the mix, the idea of escaping reality seems like a lost cause.
What’s Happening at Burning Man?
LeVezu shared with the Wall Street Journal that one individual was spending an astonishing five hours a day at his camp utilizing the Starlink connection to run their business remotely. Talk about a twist on the original Burning Man ethos! The once cherished principles of inclusion, self-reliance, and self-expression began to erode when the Silicon Valley elite started to infiltrate the festival. What was once a gathering of free spirits is now a playground for the wealthy, where you can drop thousands just to attend.
And let’s not forget the big names that have graced the desert. Musk himself once remarked that Burning Man “is Silicon Valley.” Tyler Winklevoss described his experience as “a spiritual experience,” while Mark Zuckerberg made his grand entrance via helicopter—definitely a unique interpretation of the festival’s core values. These tech moguls, who have built billion-dollar empires, now find themselves at a festival that was founded on the principle of decommodification, yet they seem oblivious to the irony.
As the festival has transformed into a luxury event, it has also spawned a micro-economy that pushes long-time residents out of their homes. The tech industry’s insatiable hunger for progress often comes at the expense of the environment, leaving devastation in its wake. With all this going on, it’s fair to say that the Orgy Dome and other beloved Burning Man traditions might be better off resting in peace.
Starlink & the Competition
But wait, there’s more! In 2025, SpaceX is slashing Starlink’s monthly prices to retain customers, especially as a wave of formidable competitors, led by Amazon, prepares to dive into the market. Isn’t that just rich? Amazon is racing to launch its own internet satellites before a looming deadline, or it risks losing its license. This orbital demonstration could be a game-changer for extending the lifespan of satellites in space. However, NASA might have other plans in mind.
As we witness the evolution of Burning Man, one can’t help but wonder: has the festival lost its essence? It seems as though the original spirit is clinging on for dear life, overshadowed by tech giants and their relentless pursuit of connectivity. Maybe it’s time for everyone to step outside, breathe in the desert air, and remember what Burning Man was truly about.
In conclusion, as we look ahead to future festivals, one thing is clear: the battle between the original spirit of Burning Man and the encroaching tech culture is far from over. Will the festival be able to reclaim its roots, or are we witnessing its transformation into a high-tech playground for the elite? Only time will tell, but for now, it seems like the flame of the original Burning Man is flickering amidst the tech storm.
