THE ADULTIFICATION OF CHILDREN ON SOCIAL MEDIA: CHALLENGES IN PREVENTING AND PUNISHING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

This work analyzes the adultification of children on social media and how this phenomenon increases the vulnerability of children and adolescents to sexual violence in the virtual environment. The topic is extremely relevant because, currently, internet access is happening earlier and earlier, which exposes this audience to content and behaviors inappropriate for their age. The main objective is to understand how this exposure contributes to the occurrence of cybercrimes and what are the main challenges faced by Brazilian law in preventing and punishing these situations. The research was developed through a qualitative approach, based on books, articles, laws, and reports from institutions that deal with the topic, and throughout the study, it was possible to perceive that, despite the existence of laws that protect children and adolescents, there are still many difficulties in practice, mainly because of anonymity on the internet, the difficulty of gathering evidence, and the lack of integration between the responsible bodies. In view of this, the work proposes the creation of the Child and Adolescent Digital Protection Program (PPDI), which aims to act in a more organized way in the prevention, identification, and rapid response to cases of violence in the digital environment. It can be concluded that simply having laws is not enough; it is necessary to invest in practical actions, digital education, and joint action by the family, school, state, and society to guarantee greater protection for children and adolescents.