Facebook, TikTok algorithms promoted Colombian child recruitment content, HRW says
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Human Rights Watch found Facebook and TikTok recommendation algorithms promoted content glorifying armed groups to users who had not searched for it, including children. The platforms removed flagged profiles only after HRW notified them in July 2026. At least 1,500 children have been recruited by armed groups in Colombia since 2021, with Cauca accounting for 57% of cases.
Key Facts
- At least 1,500 children have been recruited by armed groups in Colombia since 2021, according to the Colombian Ombudsman's Office.
- Cauca, one of Colombia's poorest regions, accounted for 57% of all documented child recruitment cases between 2021 and 2025.
- HRW researchers reviewed more than 70 accounts and 40 posts on Facebook and TikTok that glamorized armed group membership.
- Meta and ByteDance confirmed they removed the flagged profiles after being notified in July 2026.
- Groups that split from FARC after rejecting the 2016 peace agreement were responsible for 74% of documented cases.
Algorithmic Promotion
HRW found that Facebook and TikTok recommendation algorithms surfaced content glorifying armed groups to users who had not searched for it. The content included members displaying cash, jewelry, and weapons, as well as music romanticizing cartel life. The algorithms promoted high-engagement content regardless of whether users followed the accounts. Meta and ByteDance removed the flagged profiles only after HRW notified them in July 2026. The companies did not address the algorithmic amplification described in the report.
Child Recruitment Data
At least 1,500 children have been recruited by armed groups in Colombia since 2021, according to the Colombian Ombudsman's Office. Cauca, one of Colombia's poorest regions, accounted for 57% of all documented cases between 2021 and 2025. Indigenous communities, about 4% of the national population, made up roughly half of the recruited children. Groups that split from FARC after rejecting the 2016 peace agreement were responsible for 74% of cases. Children aged 10 to 14 accounted for more than 30% of documented cases.
HRW Recommendations
HRW called on social media platforms to go beyond removing flagged content. The organization urged platforms to conduct comprehensive human rights due diligence to prevent algorithmic harms. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, recruiting children under 15 into armed forces or groups constitutes a war crime.
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Facebook, TikTok algorithms promoted Colombian child recruitment content, HRW says
