'Adultization': Viral video sparks debate on the exploitation of children and adolescents on digital platforms
- Rafaela Campos da Silva
- Aug 11
- 1 min read
Jornal Nacional - June 11, 2025
A video that went viral online and has already been viewed nearly 30 million times has sparked debate about the exposure and exploitation of children and adolescents on digital platforms. In Brasília, representatives have begun advocating for the accelerated processing of bills that combat this form of violence against young people.
In 50 minutes, influencer Felipe Bressanim Pereira, known as Felca, warns about the so-called "adultification" of children and adolescents on platforms. The video exposes how the pursuit of money through monetization and the functioning of social media algorithms contribute to crimes against children and adolescents.
The Internet and Social Media Research Laboratory at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), NetLab, confirms the growth of this type of content. There is no preventative blocking of searches, words, or terms used in the context of child exploitation on social media. Researcher Marie Santini advocates for more filters and regulation to prevent the monetization of this content.
"They have all the technical capacity to automatically or semi-automatically identify content, remove that content, and could choose not to make money from it. To the extent that they choose to make money from it, they are co-responsible for this phenomenon."
