La respuesta institucional del estado colombiano frente a la trata digital de niños, niñas y adolescentes (2021-2024): Análisis del caso TikTok

Abstract

This monograph examines the relationship between the trafficking of children and adolescents in digital environments and the institutional response of the Colombian State to the use of TikTok during the 2021–2024 period. Using an approach that integrates technology, risk, and digital governance, the study analyzes how social media dynamics create new forms of vulnerability that require state responses adapted to their algorithmic logic. Methodologically, the research is based on a documentary review, a comparative institutional analysis, and the examination of information obtained through right-of-petition requests, official reports, and specialized literature on child protection and digital management. The findings reveal consistent patterns of digital grooming, persistent underreporting, technological limitations, and inter-institutional coordination barriers that affect prevention, detection, and prosecution efforts. The study concludes that, although Colombia has a robust legal framework, it faces structural and operational challenges in addressing phenomena that evolve more rapidly than the State’s regulatory and monitoring mechanisms. Overall, the research provides insights to strengthen digital governance, improve cooperation with technology platforms, and consolidate public policies aimed at protecting minors in virtual environments.