Human smugglers are using Instagram and TikTok to target children.

The difficulties at the US-Mexico border are severe, with catastrophic ramifications. The border has become a free for all as a result of the Department of Homeland Security’s reluctance to enforce US immigration rules.

Unfortunately, this means that Border Patrol agents are still overburdened. If the Biden administration has its way, tens of thousands of additional migrants would arrive at the border in late May, when Title 42 will be repealed.

Human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal crossings, human smuggling, and other issues plague the southern border.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a warning that minors are being targeted by human smugglers; the points of contact are made through popular social media applications such as Instagram and TikTok.

What are human traffickers looking for in children?
People who have made it their mission to smuggle people across the border aren’t beyond recruiting minors.

Texas law enforcement uncovered that minors are receiving monetary offers through these social media applications in exchange for bringing migrants from Mexico into Texas via the latter’s state roadways.

Of course, human traffickers do not reveal their true motives. Instead, they advertise their people smuggling activities as driving jobs with varying pay packages.

Human traffickers also target youngsters on Twitter, WhatsApp, and Facebook, in addition to TikTok and Instagram.

Texas state troopers have previously arrested a number of youngsters who responded to fraudulent advertisements for driving jobs in order to execute the bidding of people traffickers.

Unfortunately, many of those exploiting children to carry illegal immigrants across the border are members of cartels or gangs. This is still a highly risky environment in which any youngster (or anyone, for that matter) should be involved.

How can parents safeguard their children?
Nowadays, an increasing number of children utilise social media. As a result, if parents let their children to use sites like Twitter, TikTok, and others, they must be aware of who their children are communicating with.

For their children’s protection, parents can also install specific controls on gadgets they use. The correct protection measures can eventually reduce children’s chances of coming into touch with people traffickers or other criminals.