Viral video: Employee allows boy to use tablet in store to do homework

The video – first shared on Imgur – went viral after it was shared on Twitter, where it got over six million views. Claiming it was “Humanity at its best”, the Twitter user who was among the first to share it, explained why the boy was using the gadget.

Humanity at its best…❤️

This child doesn’t have internet access at home, so a store in the shopping mall allows him to use their tablet to do homework.

pic.twitter.com/YEn2qJVDuB

— FierceWarriorNStilettos (@InactionNever) November 13, 2019

The student has been identified as Guilherme Santiago, a class V student at the Abílio Gomes Municipal School. The youngest of four brothers, Guilherme lives in a low-income locality where residents, and schools, lack facilities like internet.

“At the institution, 278 students study, but there are only 12 tablets for student use. In addition, the equipment only has internet when the school board releases, not to misuse the use,” Brazilian website G1 reported.

Initially, the eager student was working on a mobile phone, but the Samsung store employee spotted him, and asked him what he was doing. The student was then allowed to use the tablet in the store.

“I didn’t say anything, I was scared. The man [store clerk] asked what I was doing. It was a work about the Southern Region. It was worth 10 [minutes] and I took 10,” the boy told G1.

Santiago’s family had no idea about how he had completed his assignments, and only came to know after coming across the viral video. “He likes to study. He commented that he has been to the mall two or three times,” Aylla Martins, the boy’s sister, said.

After the clip went viral, Samsung donated two tablets to the boy.

“Everything is already right for his tablet and we will also assist in the insurance of the device against accidents,” Gustavo Duque, service manager of Nagem group and responsible for Shopping Recife’s Samsung store, told the NN1 website.

Many Brazilians also explained that the internet is quite expensive in the country and low-income families can’t afford tablets or computers. They also pointed out that public schools lack the funds to provide students with internet. A Twitter user’s thread explaining the situation in Brazil caught the attention of many:

Internet is expensive and slow in Brazil, as you can see, and some even charge extra if you wanna use a Wi-Fi router.

So expensive in fact,that many poor people don’t have computers at home and access internet only via their phones.

And those are some packets values for phones. pic.twitter.com/belKYGlHXO

— TT | BLUE LINK（青いリンク), aposentado de ser feliz (@BLUELINKBR) November 15, 2019

People were replying here saying “use the school internet”… bold of you to assume all schools have internet.

HECK, some schools in poor regions don’t have ELECTRICITY! You think your school’s infrastructure is bad? Try Brazil’s North or Northeast.https://t.co/lS6D0XT6ML pic.twitter.com/L1EBCRd1cA

— TT | BLUE LINK（青いリンク), aposentado de ser feliz (@BLUELINKBR) November 15, 2019

(c) when I was at school I also heard the story of a teacher I had that also gave classes in a poor region,that one of their students was CRYING that they were going on holidays, because that would mean 2 months without being able to eat daily.

Internet is the LEAST of problems.

— TT | BLUE LINK（青いリンク), aposentado de ser feliz (@BLUELINKBR) November 15, 2019

Here’s how others reacted to the viral video:

Wish there were more stores like this. https://t.co/C3Pm1s3h3E

— NewIndia (@NewwIndiaa) November 15, 2019

WE NEED DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE!
Whether or not you live in an area/home with internet access shouldn’t determine your ability to learn. https://t.co/6DwxhtQNfo

— Nofearnofavors4 #LymeDisease (@Nofearnofavors4) November 15, 2019

That’s struggle and perseverance. He’s going to grow up and be great 💯

— 6Godtv (@6Godtv) November 14, 2019

This is NOT a heartwarming story this is POVERTY.

— Magnificent (@IronyIsFunny18) November 14, 2019

While it’s nice of the store, this breaks my heart. It’s terrible that libraries and schools cannot provide disadvantaged children the opportunity to study like everyone else in 2019. Internet access is as crucial to learning as textbooks in this era. 😢

— Sonia (@Chanel617SN) November 14, 2019

This makes me feel sad rather than happy :(

— ~Don Kaÿa (@asummerwine) November 14, 2019

Truly touching: this corporation’s faceless store didn’t enforce its policy to throw out non-consumers, and allowed a child access to a nigh infinite, privatized resource so said child could participate in a broken education system. 😭❤️😭❤️😭🌎☮️ https://t.co/BCJxV4pe9r

— Mario Castañeda (@wrackune) November 15, 2019

It was in Brazil. Not easy to find a Public Library …

— Juliana Assis (@JulianaAssisG) November 13, 2019

If children don’t have internet access at home, then homework shouldn’t require it or students should be given time in school to work on the assignment. I taught in a Title 1 district where few children had internet access at home.

— J monte (@Jmonte41739837) November 13, 2019