Childhood adultification is the process by which children and adolescents are prematurely exposed to behaviors, responsibilities, and content typical of adult life, compromising their emotional, social, and psychological development. In the digital environment, this manifests itself in the reproduction of aesthetic and consumption patterns, early eroticization, contact with violent or sexualized content, and participation in electronic games with compulsive consumption practices or unsafe interaction.
To address these risks, the following was enacted: Law No. 15.211/25, The law, known as ECA Digital, expands the protection provided for in the Statute of Children and Adolescents to the virtual space. The law mandates that social media accounts for adolescents under 16 years of age be linked to a legal guardian and requires platforms to create mechanisms for detecting and responding to profiles that do not comply with the minimum age requirement. In games aimed at children and young people, so-called "loot boxes" are now prohibited. Furthermore, it establishes stricter security rules for chat rooms and interaction systems.
Failure to comply with these obligations may result in fines, corrective deadlines, and even temporary suspension of activities, establishing a regime of strict liability for the companies involved.
The law provides for a six-month grace period, during which platforms must implement structural changes and review their usage, privacy, and security policies to meet legal requirements.
In this new scenario, it is crucial that technology companies, content providers, and game developers adopt digital compliance measures, review contracts, implement internal controls, and adjust their data handling practices for minors, also in accordance with the General Data Protection Law. This is a change that, in addition to being legal, directly impacts governance and corporate reputation, requiring a proactive approach to prevention.
Our firm is prepared to advise companies on adapting to the Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA Digital), offering support in reviewing terms of use and privacy policies, implementing compliance programs, analyzing regulatory risks, and handling any potential litigation. Compliance with the new legislation not only mitigates liabilities but also consolidates the image of platforms as agents committed to the comprehensive protection of children in the digital environment.