Are Facebook, TikTok promoting recruitment content for armed groups?
What's the story
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused social media giants Facebook and TikTok of failing to stop content from Colombian armed groups that recruits children. The HRW report said that the content glorifies life in armed group ranks and promotes deceptive job offers. Since 2021, around 1,500 children have been recruited by these groups, according to the organization.
Exploitation
Children used for combat, weapon handling, intelligence gathering
The HRW report highlights that armed groups exploit children for combat, weapon handling, drone operation, explosives use, and intelligence gathering.
In some cases, children lacking combat training are used as "cannon fodder."
The report also notes that nearly half of the child recruits are Indigenous children even though they only make up about 4% of the population.
Girls account for around 40% of these recruits and are especially vulnerable to sexual violence.
Online portrayal
Armed groups flaunt wealth, seen in training camps in videos
The report also highlights social media posts showing armed group members flaunting cash and jewelry.
In other posts, they are seen in training camps or listening to narcocorridos, a Mexican music genre celebrating drug traffickers' exploits.
Some users have even expressed interest in joining these groups in the comments section of such posts.
Recruitment statistics
FARC groups responsible for majority of child recruitments
The HRW states that dissident groups from the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been responsible for 74% of documented child recruitments between 2021 and 2025.
The organization informed Meta, Facebook's parent company, and TikTok's owner ByteDance about this issue.
Both companies claimed they had removed the specific content in question from their platforms.
Company statements
Meta and TikTok's response to HRW report
In response to the HRW report, Meta said it "constantly strives to refine (its) approach to combating it across (its) platforms." Meanwhile, TikTok claimed it "proactively prevents illegal armed groups and organized criminal groups from using TikTok, including to target, exploit or recruit minors."