According to HRW, content distributed by armed groups on social networks “glorifies life within armed groups” and promotes “deceptive job offers.”
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According to NGOs, since 2021 armed groups have recruited about 1,500 children.
As stated in the HRW report, armed groups exploit children for combat missions, handling weapons, drones, and explosives, and gathering intelligence information.
In some cases, children without combat training are used as “cannon fodder,” the document emphasizes.
“Digital platforms must acknowledge that they are used for child recruitment,” said HRW Americas director Juanita Goebertus at a press conference in Bogota.
According to her, this means crimes are committed through these platforms, “including war crimes.”
The report indicates that nearly half of the recruited children are indigenous locals, although they make up only about four percent of the country’s total population.
Girls constitute about 40 percent of recruited children and are “particularly vulnerable to sexual violence.”
“Easy money”
The HRW report describes social media posts where members of armed groups display stacks of cash and jewelry.
In other posts, they are seen at training camps or listening to “narcocorridos” – a Mexican music genre glorifying the exploits of notorious drug traffickers.
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“Armed groups are very successful at selling a certain lifestyle on social networks,” said Mathew Charles, founder of the “Mi Historia” foundation working with conflict victims, to journalists.
They create a “tough guy” image and promise the opportunity to earn “easy money,” he said, urging the state and other NGOs to fight “these lies and create alternative narratives.”
According to HRW, dissident groups formed after the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are responsible for 74 percent of child recruitment cases recorded between 2021 and 2025.
HRW stated that it informed “Meta,” the parent company of Facebook, and “ByteDance,” owner of TikTok, about the issue. Both companies confirmed they removed the specified content.
“Meta” said it “continually strives to improve its approach to combating” child recruitment efforts on its platforms.
“TikTok” stated that it “actively prevents illegal armed groups and organized criminal groups from using TikTok, including attempts to target minors, exploit them, or recruit them.”
The historic 2016 peace agreement ended a half-century-long war between the government and FARC guerrillas, but remaining armed groups continue to control large territories in remote northeastern and southern Colombia.
Newly elected president Abelardo de la Espriella has promised to fight armed groups strictly and plans to form a military alliance with the US and Israel.
