President compared number of followers between content creators who “talk nonsense” and educational ones
The president (PT) compared the number of followers among digital influencers who “they talk nonsense” and creators of educational content, mentioning the former president (PL) as an example. The declaration was made this Friday (16 January 2026), during a ceremony at the Brazilian Mint, in Rio de Janeiro.
“Now there’s a profession called influencer. A guy who works on the internet and has 3 million followers. I don’t know anyone who teaches something serious who has 4 million. But, if he talks nonsense, he could even have 20 million. Bolsonaro had 30 million”said the PT member.
In his speech, the president also mentioned the risks of artificial intelligence, especially for women. “You women, be careful with artificial intelligence. They are capable of taking a photo of you and putting you naked on your cell phone. The rot is not even beginning in artificial intelligence”he declared.
FAKE NEWS AND ELECTIONS
Lula suggested that he was concerned about the impact of social media on the 2026 presidential elections. He stated that “the lie will defeat the truth” if the population is not aware of the spread of fake news.
“We cannot be held hostage by the algorithm, we need to remember that there will be an election. And it is important to remember that, if we are not smart, the lie will win over the truth”said the president.
The statement is related to Planalto’s strategy of associating the electoral debate with the defense of democracy and the fight against disinformation.
The event celebrated 90 years of the minimum wage in Brazil, established in 1936, during the government of Getúlio Vargas. In December, Lula signed a decree setting the national minimum wage at R$1,621 from January 1, 2026 – an increase of 6.79% compared to the 2025 value, which was R$1,518.
