Stalkers' modus operandi raises alarm about exposure on social media

As expected, the sad episode that culminated in the death of 17-year-old Vitória Regina in Cajamar, São Paulo, has dominated the news with a touch of sensationalism, which has inevitably opened the door to various—and irresponsible—speculations about suspects, motives, and the manner in which the crime occurred. This, in itself, already raises important reflections on media literacy. However, I want to highlight another aspect of this extensive discussion, which hinges on the most plausible hypothesis to date, according to the authorities investigating the case: that Vitória was the victim of a stalker (an “obsessive stalker”, to use a more direct definition, who normally acts by gathering information about their targets through the internet). 

First of all, it's important to make it very clear that the victim, in this and other cases, is simply a victim and bears no responsibility for what happened to her. Vitória bears no responsibility for "posting too much" or anything like that. However, the way the alleged perpetrator claims to have acted, and the way he had information about locations, routes, and times, raises a warning about how we share sensitive information about our daily lives on social media. 

First, we need to separate the reasons that lead us to use platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram. The 'regular people' on these platforms—that is, those who aren't digital influencers, internet content creators, artists, or others who use their profiles to promote their work—are there to connect with their friends. Of course, it's possible and very common for us to make friends online, but it's important to verify that the person is real and trustworthy. At this point, having mutual friends or acquaintances is crucial. Searching with a person's name also helps us identify the authenticity of a given profile, whether to verify the authenticity of photos or even learn about previous situations in which that person, if real, has been involved. 

It's not about being a CSI, investigating everything and everyone, but we must be cautious. Unfortunately, the number of crimes committed with the help of, or entirely online, is vast, with financial scams being the most common. 

On the other hand, we shouldn't turn our lives into a Big Brother show, where we share everything we do, where we are, or our feelings in real time. A photo taken at school or at home shouldn't include the location of that particular place. If you're at a restaurant that's easily identified in a photo, the most cautious approach is to post that post at a later time. 

In the case of Vitória Regina, forensic analysis performed on the cell phone of the main suspect, Maicol Sales dos Santos, revealed that he had been tracking the young woman's movements since 2024 and had a large collection of photos of her saved on his device. Apparently, the motive was a kind of revenge due to an unrequited obsessive interest. Maicol lives in the same area as the victim, which reinforces the idea that the crime could have occurred under other circumstances, regardless of what the young woman shared on her personal profile. However, it's impossible not to consider the facilitating aspect that overexposure can offer in this type of situation. For example, knowing what time someone leaves work for home. 

Media literacy is therefore essential to protect ourselves and others. Social media is useful, and good times should be shared. Achievements, large and small, should be celebrated. A good example should always be set, preferably with those we truly trust and know. Contrary to what many people have come to believe, the internet is not a perfect place.