Lack of social media regulation raises concern
- Rafaela Campos da Silva
- Jul 31
- 1 min read
Valor Econômico - May, 23 2025
Brazil has the third largest social media user base in the world. Brazilians spend an average of 3 hours and 37 minutes per day on social platforms, compared to the global average of 2 hours and 23 minutes. In European countries like France, Italy, and Switzerland, daily social media use doesn’t reach two hours; in Japan, it’s under 60 minutes. This information alone doesn’t lead to conclusions, but when considering that the virtual environment influences behavior—such as cases of incitement to violence, racism, and misogyny—the picture changes. Social networks were a key element in the attempted coup on January 8, have been linked to school attacks, and spread messages that have already led to the deaths of children and adolescents.
Between January 10 and 15, NetLab identified 752 fraudulent ads on Meta’s platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. The number of false ads rose to 1,018 between January 16 and 21—a 35.4% increase—after the government decided not to implement new Pix rules.
“It’s the only sector in the country that doesn’t have to comply with any Brazilian law. It’s a lawless land, attracting all kinds of fraud and crime, including drug sales. Nothing is done because no one has the legal authority to act,” says Marie Santini, director of NetLab, the Internet and Social Media Studies Lab at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
