Childhood adultification: neuropsychological impacts and challenges in the digital age

Dakila News
Aug 15
3 min read

Understand the news at your own pace: To make the content more accessible while maintaining technical depth, this news item has been presented in two formats:

Simplified version: Ideal for those who are not in the field but are curious about the subject.

Technical version: Aimed at readers with prior knowledge or professional interest in the subject. Choose the reading that suits you best — or enjoy both! Recently, Brazil has found itself debating a sensitive issue: the adultization/ sexualization of children. The issue gained traction after a video by influencer Felca went viral, reaching over 35 million views. But what exactly is adultification? It refers to forcing children to act, think, or take on adult responsibilities before they are ready—something that may seem harmless, but poses serious risks to their development.

According to the Abrinq Foundation, this can happen when we overload children with tasks that are not age-appropriate, such as caring for siblings, helping with household finances, or consuming inappropriate content, including sexualized content. Experts warn that children's brains need to go through each stage in their own time to mature healthily.

The problem is not new, but social media has given it a new face. With 93% of Brazilian children and adolescents connected, according to Cetic.br, Many are exposed to consumption patterns, aesthetic pressure, and the pursuit of popularity on platforms. This activates areas of the brain linked to reward and can create dangerous emotional addictions.

To protect children, experts recommend limiting screen time, avoiding excessive exposure to social media, and seeking professional guidance whenever you notice changes in behavior. After all, letting childhood run its course is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Accessible language: (News produced with the help of AI)

The adultization of children, characterized by the forced acceleration of psychosocial development, has been widely discussed by experts following recent cases of excessive exposure of children on digital platforms. The phenomenon involves the early assignment of adult responsibilities or stimuli, including task overload, performance demands, and access to sexualized content, directly affecting neurocognitive development.

Studies, such as that by Polanczyk (USP), show that the child's brain goes through critical stages of maturation, with the prefrontal cortex — responsible for logical reasoning and inhibitory control — being one of the last to reach full functionality, between the ages of 20 and 25. Interrupting or anticipating these stages can increase the incidence of disorders such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficits.

The TIC Kids Online Brasil (Cetic.br) survey shows that 93% of Brazilian children and adolescents (aged 9 to 16) access the internet, with 20% starting before the age of 6. This early exposure intensifies the activation of the dopaminergic reward system, potentiating compulsive behaviors. Added to this is the monetization of content involving minors, which can encourage practices of digital exploitation.

From a regulatory standpoint, Bill 2628/2024 proposes mechanisms for parental control and removal of harmful content. At the same time, individual guidelines include limiting screen time (0-2 years: avoid, 2-6 years: maximum 1 hour/day, >6 years: up to 2 hours/day) and restricting public exposure. The preventive approach requires integration between family, school, and public policies.

Technical language: (News produced with the help of AI)

Sources: BBC News Brasil – "Adultização: por que pular etapas e transformar crianças em pequenos adultos não é saudável" (link)