As was to be expected, the tragic episode that culminated in the death of the teenager Vitória Regina, of 17 years, in Cajamar-SP, has dominated the news with many refinements of sensationalism, what, inevitably, opened spaces for various – and the irresponsible – speculations about suspects, motivations and the way the crime happened. This, by itself, already brings us important reflections on media education. However, I want to highlight another aspect of this extensive discussion, that hooks onto the most plausible hypothesis so far, according to the authorities investigating the case: that Vitória would have been a victim of astalker(an "obsessive stalker", to use a more direct definition, that usually operates by gathering information about its targets through the internet.
First of all, it is important to make it very clear that the victim, in this and other cases, is just a victim, not having any blame for what happened to him. Vitória has no responsibility for "posting too much" or anything like that. Meanwhile, the way the alleged author of the crime claims to have acted and had information about locations, routes and schedules bring us an alert about the way we share sensitive information about our daily lives on social media.
In the first place, we need to separate the reasons that lead us to use platforms like Facebook, X and Instagram. As 'ordinary people' in these media – that is to say, those who are not digital influencers, content creators for the internet, artists or others who use their profiles as a way to promote their work – they are there to connect with their friends. It is clear, it is possible and very common for us to make friends through the virtual medium, but it is necessary to check if that person is real and trustworthy. At this point, having mutual friends or acquaintances is essential. Searching with the person's name also helps us identify the authenticity of a certain profile, be it to verify the authenticity of photos and even to become aware of previous situations that person, being real, was involved.
It's not about living a CSI, investigating everything and everyone, but it is necessary to be cautious. Unfortunately, the number of crimes committed with the help of or entirely on the internet is vast, with financial scams being the most common.
On the other hand, we should not make our lives a Big Brother, in which we share everything we do, where we are or our feelings in real time. A photo at school or at home, should not be accompanied by the location of that particular place. You are in a restaurant that is easily identifiable in a photo, the most cautious thing is to publish a certain post at another time.
In the case of Vitória Regina, the examination carried out on the cell phone of the main suspect, Maicol Sales dos Santos, he showed that he had been following the young woman's steps since 2024 and had a large collection of photos of the teenager saved on his device. Apparently, the motivation was a kind of revenge due to an unrequited obsessive interest. Maicol lives in the same area as the victim, what reinforces that the crime could have occurred under different circumstances, regardless of what the young woman shared on her personal profile. However, it is impossible not to think about the facilitating aspect that overexposure can offer in this type of situation. For example, to know what time someone leaves work heading home.
Media education is very necessary, therefore, to protect ourselves and, також, protect other people. Social media is useful, and the good moments should be shared. The conquests, small or large, must be celebrated. The good example should, always, to be passed on. Preferably, with those we truly trust and know. Contrary to what has become common sense for many people, the internet is not a perfect place.
