Social Media Platforms Accused of Facilitating Child Recruitment
A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleges that Facebook and TikTok have failed to prevent the spread of content used by Colombian armed groups to recruit children, and in some cases the platforms "appeared to promote these posts." The report, published on Monday, says social media is being used to "glorify life in armed group ranks" and to present deceptive job offers to potential recruits.
According to HRW, since 2021 around 1,500 children have been recruited by armed groups in Colombia. The report details how children are used for combat, handling weapons, operating drones and explosives, and gathering intelligence. In some cases, children without combat training are described as being used as "cannon fodder."
The report also highlights the disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities: almost half of child recruits are Indigenous children, despite Indigenous people making up only about 4% of the population. Girls account for around 40% of child recruits and are "particularly exposed to sexual violence," the report says.
Drone Warfare and Rising Recruitment
The HRW report, covered by NBC News and India Today, describes how armed groups are increasingly training children in drone warfare. These groups use drones outfitted with explosives to attack rivals and strike police and army bases. Human Rights Watch said it verified videos posted on social media showing children using explosive-laden drones and interviewed family protection officers working with children who had escaped or been demobilized. Children who operated drones said the activity was described as a "game" rather than participation in armed fighting.
Colombia's Human Rights Defenders' Office reported that armed groups carried out 121 drone attacks in the first five months of this year, killing 21 people and injuring 145.
The report notes that child recruitment is on the rise again. A 2016 peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reduced violence and slowed recruitment, but now smaller rebel groups and criminal organizations are fighting for control of rural areas abandoned by FARC, where law enforcement and social services remain weak.
In 1999, during the peak of the conflict with FARC, an estimated 1,320 children were recruited, according to a national truth commission. The current figures, provided by Colombia's Human Rights Defenders' Office, show 625 cases of child recruitment in 2024 alone.
Social Media Content and Recruitment Methods
The HRW report describes social media posts showing members of armed groups flaunting wads of cash and jewelry, appearing in training camps, or listening to "narcocorridos" — a Mexican music genre that celebrates the exploits of drug traffickers. In the comments sections of these posts, some users asked how they could join.
HRW said that dissident groups that emerged from FARC have been responsible for 74% of child recruitment cases documented between 2021 and 2025. A FARC holdout group led by Ivan Mordisco is involved in most cases, particularly in the Cauca region.
HRW said it had informed Meta, Facebook's parent company, and TikTok's owner ByteDance about the problem. Both companies said they had removed the specific content flagged by HRW and provided statements about their policies, with Meta saying it "constantly strives to refine" its approach.
Calls for Action and Government Response
Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, said: "Armed groups in Colombia are recruiting children with impunity. Protection systems are failing, and social media platforms have become a more effective recruiting ground."
The report urges the Colombian government to commit more resources to prosecuting recruiters and strengthening prevention efforts. It also calls on social media platforms to create easier ways for users to report content and preserve evidence. There was no immediate response from the Colombian government to the report's recommendations.
The Economic Times notes that newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to crack down on armed groups and plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel.