Part 3/13:
Most of the male students in these border towns—whether on the east or west side—are somehow entangled in criminal activities. The allure of notoriety, combined with the influence of social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, amplifies their recruitment. These platforms showcase a glamorized version of the cartel lifestyle—flashy cars, money, and fame—that appeals to impressionable teenagers.
The ease of access to such imagery exacerbates the problem, yet authorities seem ill-equipped or perhaps unwilling to fully track and dismantle these recruitment networks. There's an evident disconnect between available information and effective intervention, making it increasingly difficult to curb these adolescent encroachments into crime.