Podcast Summary: O Assunto (“Adultização – o debate público e político”)
Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Vitor Boiadjan (G1)
Guests: Laís Peretto (Childhood Brasil), Nay Macedo (psychologist & child protection specialist)
Overview
This episode explores the urgent debate around the “adultização” (premature adultification) and exposure of children and adolescents on digital platforms, especially following recent viral denunciations. It examines the public, political, and legislative mobilization this controversy sparked, with analysis by legal advocates and mental health experts. The episode foregrounds the unique dangers children face online, discusses the sudden burst of legislative activity in Brazil, and offers both technical and social solutions.
Key Discussion Points
1. Trigger Event: Viral Video and Its Impact
- [00:02-01:00] Viral video by influencer Felca (Felipe Bressane) exposes exploitation of minors for monetization on digital platforms, highlighting how algorithmic virality puts children at risk.
- [01:09-01:45] Focus turns to Ítalo Santos, an influencer with 17 million followers, denounced for exploiting minors and subsequently arrested together with law enforcement involvement.
“Foi preciso a manifestação de um fenômeno da internet para amplificar um problema da internet. E um problema que não é especialmente novo.”
— Guest B [00:12]
2. How Social Media Algorithms Endanger Children
- [05:25] Innocent videos can be filtered to predators by algorithms seeking content that matches their patterns.
- Platforms’ algorithmic promotion exposes innocent content to those with malicious intention.
“Era um vídeo que talvez seja inocente, mas ele caiu na malha do algoritmo... onde eles condicionam para receber esse mesmo vídeo, né? E é assustador…”
— Laís Peretto [05:25]
3. Legislative Surge and Contentious Debate
- [02:11–03:09, 04:57–09:42] Following Felca’s video, over 35 new legislative projects on child protection in digital spaces appear in Congress (totaling 61).
- Laís notes both optimism for broader attention and concern over legislative fragmentation.
- The main bill discussed, known as “PL-PELCA” (PL 2628), is highlighted as mature and robust, modeled after international best practices.
- Main pillars of the bill:
- Require platforms to design products for child safety.
- Greater transparency on algorithms and recommendations.
- Rapid removal of illegal/harmful content.
- Explicit ban on use of children’s data for profiling and advertising.
- Mechanisms for reporting and external oversight.
“A proteção da infância não tem espectro político... ganhou um vulto inimaginável.”
— Laís Peretto [05:52]
Notable Political Tension:
- Some parliamentarians raise “freedom of expression” concerns, often without having fully read the bill, confusing it with unrelated fake news legislation.
“Eu realmente acredito que não leram o projeto de lei, talvez até por essa enxurrada de novos projetos que apareceram…”
— Laís Peretto [11:57]
- Laís urges all to read Article 6, which lists precisely what content can be removed without a court order (e.g., sexual abuse, cyberbullying, encouragement of self-harm).
4. International Comparison
- [14:47–16:49] Reference to legislation in England, France, Sweden, the US (Kids Online State Act, Take Down Act), and Indonesia.
- US example seen as strong bipartisan movement – calling the Brazilian initiative a potential “ECA digital.”
“O Brasil tem agora a chance de aprovar um marco de proteção online importantíssimo.”
— Laís Peretto [15:40]
5. Society’s Role and Adaptive Solutions
- [16:58–22:53] Beyond technical/legal solutions, societal adaptation is needed—parents, schools, platforms, and children themselves must be aware and act.
- Parental digital illiteracy and overwork are highlighted as key challenges.
- Notable surge in “Disque 100” reports (child protection hotline) after Felca’s video: from 5 tips to 326 in days.
“O papel de proteção das crianças e adolescentes é de toda a sociedade…”
— Laís Peretto [19:41]
6. The Concept of Adultização (Adultification)
- [22:53–24:18] Nay Macedo defines adultização as assigning children/adolescents responsibilities, behaviors, and exposure appropriate only to adults:
- Includes consuming inappropriate media, sexualized representation, excessive responsibilities at home, and reduction in play/study time.
“Adultização é quando uma criança ou adolescente são colocados em papéis… mais apropriadas a fases adultas…”
— Nay Macedo [22:53]
7. Cultural and Psychological Impacts
- [24:18–27:53]
- Longstanding naturalization of age-inappropriate sexualization in Brazilian culture/media.
- Internet removes prior barriers and regulatory controls.
- Psychological consequences: tendency toward anxiety, depression, suicidality, diminished sense of self, and impaired development.
“No comportamento a gente pode falar de crianças que começam a imitar esses gestos mais sexualizados... que às vezes repetem sem entender…”
— Nay Macedo [26:15]
8. Sharingting (Oversharing by Parents)
- [28:12–31:26]
- Sharingting: Parents sharing children’s images/personal data on social platforms, often innocently but with real risks.
- Research (Oberta de Cataluña & Spanish National Police): 72% of online-exploited images originated from family posts (not explicit, mostly “innocent”).
- Images with little or no clothing, even if non-sexualized, attract predators due to algorithmic amplification.
“A maioria dessas imagens estava na escala zero, ou seja, não tinha nenhum nível de erotização…”
— Nay Macedo [30:46]
9. Recommendations for Family and Society
- [31:26–35:13]
- All actors should be aware of unintended consequences of online posts, even with good intentions.
- Keep accounts private, minimize sharing of identifying info (e.g., uniforms, routines), avoid images in vulnerable situations.
- Consult children on sharing their images, respect their wishes, use secure alternatives (private albums, direct messages, secure video calls).
- Recognize that aggressors are often known, so privacy settings are not foolproof.
“O algoritmo não diferencia o que é afeto do que é exploração... ele só vê o engajamento…”
— Nay Macedo [32:53]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|------------|-------| | 00:12 | Guest B | “Foi preciso a manifestação de um fenômeno da internet para amplificar um problema da internet. E um problema que não é especialmente novo.” | | 05:25 | Laís Peretto| “Era um vídeo que talvez seja inocente, mas ele caiu na malha do algoritmo... onde eles condicionam para receber esse mesmo vídeo, né? E é assustador…” | | 05:52 | Laís Peretto| “A proteção da infância não tem espectro político... ganhou um vulto inimaginável.” | | 11:57 | Laís Peretto| “Eu realmente acredito que não leram o projeto de lei, talvez até por essa enxurrada de novos projetos que apareceram…” | | 15:40 | Laís Peretto| “O Brasil tem agora a chance de aprovar um marco de proteção online importantíssimo.” | | 19:41 | Laís Peretto| “O papel de proteção das crianças e adolescentes é de toda a sociedade…” | | 22:53 | Nay Macedo | “Adultização é quando uma criança ou adolescente são colocados em papéis… mais apropriadas a fases adultas…” | | 30:46 | Nay Macedo | “A maioria dessas imagens estava na escala zero, ou seja, não tinha nenhum nível de erotização…” | | 32:53 | Nay Macedo | “O algoritmo não diferencia o que é afeto do que é exploração... ele só vê o engajamento…” |
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:02–01:00 — Introduction to the viral video and its impact
- 01:09–01:45 — Arrest of Ítalo Santos
- 02:11–03:33 — Legislative mobilization and bill details
- 05:25–05:43 — Algorithmic risks and innocent content
- 09:42–11:49 — PL-PELCA summary and legislative hurdles
- 14:47–16:49 — International legislative comparisons
- 19:30–20:34 — Duty of society, surge in child protection reports
- 22:53–24:18 — Definition and everyday forms of adultização
- 26:15–27:56 — Impact on development and mental health
- 28:12–31:26 — Risks of parental sharingting
- 31:26–35:13 — Practical recommendations and final reflections
Conclusion
The episode weaves together urgent contemporary phenomena—the viralization of denunciations, the lightning-fast response of legislative bodies, and the insights of advocacy and psychology. It calls for urgent, cross-sectoral action to protect children in an era where technology and culture both converge to amplify risks. It urges technical, legislative, and collective social responsibility, with special attention to the unintended consequences of seemingly innocent online activity.
The dialogue is striking in its insistence that protection transcends political lines and demands vigilance from all corners of society. The memorable takeaways offer both concrete steps and a sobering reminder of the realities in Brazil and worldwide.