As expected, the tragic episode that culminated in the death of 17-year-old Vitória Regina in Cajamar, São Paulo, has dominated the news with much sensationalism, which inevitably opened space for various—and irresponsible—speculations about suspects, motives, and how the crime occurred. This alone already brings important reflections on media literacy. However, I want to highlight another aspect of this extensive discussion, which ties into the most plausible hypothesis so far, according to the authorities investigating the case: that Vitória may have been a victim of a stalker (an ‘obsessive pursuer,’ to use a more direct definition, who typically gathers information about their targets through the internet).
First and foremost, it’s important to make it very clear that the victim, in this and other cases, is just a victim and bears no responsibility for what happened to her. Vitória is not at all to blame for ‘posting too much’ or anything of the sort. However, the way the alleged perpetrator claims to have acted—having information about locations, routes, and schedules—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. ‘Ordinary people’ on these platforms—meaning those who are not digital influencers, content creators, artists, or others who use their profiles to promote their work—are there to connect with friends. Of course, it’s possible and very common to make friends online, but it’s necessary to verify whether that person is real and trustworthy. At this point, having mutual friends or acquaintances is crucial. Searching for the person’s name also helps us verify the authenticity of a profile, whether to check photo authenticity or even learn about past situations that person may have been involved in.
This isn’t about living like CSI, investigating everyone and everything, but caution is necessary. Unfortunately, the number of crimes committed with the aid of—or entirely on—the internet is vast, with financial scams being the most common.
On the other hand, we shouldn’t turn our lives into a Big Brother scenario, where we share everything we do, where we are, or our feelings in real time. A photo at school or at home shouldn’t come with the location tagged. If you’re at a restaurant easily identifiable in a photo, the safest approach is to post it at another time.
In Vitória Regina’s case, forensic analysis of the primary suspect’s phone, Maicol Sales dos Santos, showed 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 form of revenge due to unrequited obsessive interest. Maicol lives in the same area as the victim, reinforcing 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 role that overexposure can play in such situations—such as knowing when someone leaves work to head home.
Media literacy is therefore essential to protect ourselves and others. Social media is useful, and good moments should be shared. Achievements, big or small, should be celebrated. Good examples should always be passed on—preferably with those we truly trust and know. Contrary to what has become common sense for many, the internet is not a perfect place.
