CRIMINAL ASPECTS OF ADULTIFICATION AND CHILD EXPLOITATION

Abstract

This article analyzes the penal aspects of the adultification of children in the face of the increasing exposure of minors, especially on social media and in the entertainment industry, highlighting the fragility of state action and the insufficiency of regulations in preventing and suppressing these practices. Part of this arises due to the omission of the State and the lack of effective regulation of digital platforms, requiring legislative review and the strengthening of public policies to ensure the comprehensive protection of minors. The central objective is to show the ineffectiveness of criminal protection against child exploitation, highlighting flaws in the application of laws and in holding those involved accountable. The justification emphasizes that digital overexposure increases risks such as cyberbullying, harassment, psychological manipulation, and sexual exploitation. The theoretical framework addresses the historical evolution of childhood, from the earliest conceptions of this phase of life to the construction of the modern view, influenced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Furthermore, phenomena such as the sexualization of children and the monetization of the image of minors over the years are also analyzed. Several cases are mentioned that reinforce the need for accountability, protection, and care for those involved. Methodologically, this is a bibliographic and documentary research aimed at identifying gaps in the application of criminal law and proposing preventive, educational, and punitive measures, advocating for the joint responsibility of family, society, the State, and digital platforms to ensure safe environments and the healthy development of children and adolescents.