Colombia’s guerrilla recruitment video problem - BBC Trending podcast, BBC World Service

BBC Trending

2024-08-19

17 分钟
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Fighters from dissident armed groups in Colombia are using TikTok to glorify their lives as guerrillas and recruit youngsters.
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  • The song you're hearing comes from a recruitment video on TikTok.

  • In the video, we see just an image with text accompanied by a catchy tune.

  • Whoever posted it is offering the promise of money, parties and adventures.

  • A direct message away.

  • And hundreds of comments on TikTok asking how to join show there's huge interest, but there's a catch.

  • In fact, recently Colombia's defense minister warned of the dangers of TikTok.

  • Videos like these are recruitment actions that.

  • Are being carried out to attract children, minors in various regions of the country.

  • And this is one of them.

  • So who is behind these videos?

  • Well, this is one of many TikToks posted by people in Colombia's dissident guerrilla groups.

  • These are armed groups that didn't like the terms of a peace treaty negotiated between FARC and the government in 2016, and they kept fighting against the Colombian government.

  • These groups make their money from illegal businesses.

  • And although not all the videos actively offer jobs, there are hundreds showing off what they portray as a slice of life inside the money, cars, guns, women, community, and purpose.

  • So how popular are these TikToks and what does it mean for Colombia that there's tons of them?

  • Easily found by young people with smartphones across the country.

  • Welcome to BBC Trending.

  • I'm Laura Garcia in London, and in this episode, we're digging into what dissident guerrilla recruitment videos on TikTok mean for Colombia's path towards peace.

  • Joining me is Rachelle Krieger from BBC Monitoring in Miami.

  • And together we've been working on this story across continents.