Felca: The Creator Behind the 'Adultization' Phenomenon

Despite his current status as a viral sensation, Felca revealed a quieter history during an interview with Sandra Annenberg. He described his early years as being marked by a severe case of social anxiety that made communication difficult. He characterized his younger self as a person who was 'very quiet' and essentially reclusive.

According to Felca, the creation of his online persona was a direct response to these struggles. He explained that the act of sharing his opinions and humor was a mechanism to bridge the gap between his internal thoughts and the external world. He stated, "I come from a place of social anxiety where I was a very quiet person, very calm, in my childhood, I said nothing. I didn't talk to people, I was a somewhat reclusive guy."

He further elaborated on his motivation for creating the Felca identity. He viewed it as a necessary tool to engage with society on his own terms. He noted, "So, putting my opinions, saying what I think, putting my personality, my humor, I think that's where I conceived a name to communicate with the outside world."

In 2025, Felca pivoted from entertainment to investigative journalism, tackling the exploitation of minors on digital platforms. He spent a year working on a project, including seven months of research, resulting in a video nearly 50 minutes long. The video exposed how algorithms can be manipulated to deliver child-related content to suspicious accounts.

The reception was immediate and massive. The video accumulated nearly 30 million views and ignited debates across the country. The impact extended beyond social media; three weeks after the video's release, the Congress approved a new law designed to protect minors on digital platforms. The legislation includes penalties that can reach R$ 50 million.

Felca admitted that the legislative success was unexpected. He expressed hope that this event would trigger a domino effect of positive changes in the digital landscape. He remarked, "I didn't imagine that this would become law. It's a bit hard to sink in. I just made a video, but I hope it's a domino effect for other positive changes." He also used an analogy to describe the depth of his findings, stating, "When I started researching, that strange thing was just an iceberg that I only saw the top layer, but there was an immense layer of ice going into the ground and I put it all in the video."

Felca attributes his moral compass and courage to a childhood raised outside of the digital world. His parents made the decision to restrict his access to social media, a choice he initially questioned but later understood. He did not have his first social media account for direct communication until he was approximately 16 years old.

Reflecting on this restriction, he noted that while he once viewed it as paranoia, he now recognizes it as an act of responsibility. He believes that growing up offline allowed him to develop a strong sense of empathy and honesty, which he learned from his parents. He specifically credited his mother for teaching him empathy and his father for teaching him honesty.

He summarized his upbringing by stating, "I was able to have my first social media account for direct contact, to be able to talk to people from around 16 years old. So, my entire adolescence was outside of social media. I thought it was paranoia, but today I see that it was responsibility." He added, "Everything I know about empathy I learned from my mother, and about honesty, from my father."