Part 9/16:
The Role of Social Media and Internet in Facilitating Trafficking
Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and others serve as crucial communication channels for traffickers. They provide step-by-step instructions for illegal crossings and recruiting young drivers—sometimes as young as 12 years old—to transport illicit migrants or goods. These online platforms filter and censor content selectively, often silencing or banning legitimate investigations or reports, while trafficking instructions flourish.
Brandon Jud notes that content that exposes trafficking or discusses effective solutions is often shadowbanned or suppressed, greatly hampering efforts to raise awareness and curb these networks.