Infância roubada: trabalho infantil e a exploração midiática de crianças e adolescentes no território brasileiro

Abstract

This study analyzes, from a legal perspective, child labor and the media exploitation of children and adolescents in the digital environment, evaluating the effectiveness of current legislation, the actions of protection agencies, and the challenges involved in fully guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents in the face of contemporary technological transformations. The research begins by discussing the legal framework for child protection, considering the increasing use of social media by children and adolescents as a means of content creation and monetization through videos, photographs, documentaries, and artistic activities. In this context, the role of the Statute of the Child and Adolescent is highlighted regarding practices of negligence, exploitation, and rights violations—particularly given the normalization of exposing children and adolescents on digital platforms. The study employs a qualitative methodology involving a review of literature and documents, combined with an empirical analysis of child influencer profiles, aiming to assess the effectiveness of existing laws and the challenges faced in fully guaranteeing the rights of this demographic in the digital realm. It concludes that, despite normative and institutional progress, the digital landscape poses new challenges to the comprehensive protection of children, underscoring the need for legislative updates, effective oversight, and greater awareness regarding the boundaries of children's and adolescents' activities on social media