Brazil's Digital Divide: Children in Remote Areas Lack Access to Age-Appropriate Content

In the heart of the Amazon rainforest and along the waterways of Brazil, a concerning reality unfolds: children are deprived of age-appropriate content due to limited access to internet and television programming. A 2014 resolution by the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (CONANDA) restricted advertising targeted at children, leading to a decline in children's programming on free-to-air television. This has had a disproportionate effect on children in remote areas with poor internet access. 'In these riverine communities, where cell phone signals are often unreliable, thousands of children are left without options,' says Ronaldo Gillet, a reporter for SBT News, who recently visited the region. The IBGE's data reveals a stark contrast: 94.3% of Brazilian homes receive free-to-air television, yet only 35% have access to high-speed internet. The situation is even more critical in the North region, where only 11% of households have reliable internet. This lack of access impacts children's development and entertainment. The video underscores the urgent need to bridge this digital divide and ensure that all children, regardless of their location, have access to appropriate content.