There are two things Hernan Vergel recommends when planning to cross the U.S. southern border: Bring a camping tent, and don't trust others.
These tips can be lifesaving, especially for migrants starting from the Darien Gap from Colombia into Panama, where animals can attack during humid nights.
But unlike other young users uploading the latest lip sync or spicy food challenge, Vergel, 34, has taken to TikTok every day since May 19, to document his journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. His videos explain how to safely cross Honduras without being bothered by authorities or how to shirk migration controls in Guatemala.
And while Vergel's potential audience is growing, he isn't the only one. Smugglers are also taking to TikTok to advertise their services too.
Authorities and advocacy groups worry that social media platforms like TikTok are being used to encourage the perilous trek while minimizing the risks involved. Almost 2 million people try to cross the border each year. Tens of thousands are kidnapped, abused and extorted by drug cartels running the smuggling routes just feet away from the U.S. Some migrants don't survive the journey as a result of hazardous conditions, such as blistering heat and rough terrain.
A review by USA TODAY identified at least 15 out of dozens of accounts that use hashtags such as #SueñoAmericano, #tapondarien, or #cbp, where anyone can browse through hundreds of videos with tips on how to cross the U.S. southern border − or whom to hire. As of June, the hashtag #darien had been viewed 1.1 billion times.
USA TODAY was able to reach a user of these accounts as well as a man who described himself as a "coyote" – which is the Spanish slang word for smuggler – who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity.
The man, who said he is from Central America but would not provide the country he lives in, said he facilitates travel for migrants across the border in exchange for money.
The United Nations International Organization for Migration has warned about the dangerous trend.
"The TikTok platform is used to promote the 'services' offered by human traffickers through short videos. These videos showcase successful cases of irregular border crossings and captivating images aimed at capturing the attention of individuals seeking to migrate irregularly with the assistance of a third party," according to an IOM report that mapped the use of different social media platforms on human trafficking to the U.S..
TikTok did not respond to USA TODAY's multiple requests for comment for this story. The social media platform has also come under fire in recent months for other security concerns among teens and young users on the app.