Viral Child Soldiers on TikTok

4 days ago

Child soldiers in Sudan's civil war, referred to as 'lion cubs,' gain viral fame on TikTok, with videos showing them in military uniforms, celebrating victories, and making violent threats.
Bellingcat investigation reveals that these viral videos, portraying fighting as normal and aspirational, could encourage more youth recruitment into the conflict.
TikTok removed seven of 12 reported accounts featuring child soldier content after Bellingcat's inquiry, but some videos remain active, violating platform policies.
Both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) use child soldiers as propaganda tools, with videos showing them alongside senior officials and in combat scenes.
Experts warn that the glorification of child soldiers on social media normalizes violence and serves as a recruitment tool, comparing them to 'Disney stars' for their fame and influence.
UN reports highlight systematic recruitment of children by the RSF and SAF, with children involved in combat roles, checkpoints, and social media propaganda.
Social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook are criticized for inadequate enforcement of policies against child soldier content, despite clear violations.
Meta and TikTok responded to Bellingcat's findings by removing some content, but many posts remain accessible, highlighting gaps in moderation.

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