Albania has decided to ban TikTok for one year after the tragic death of a teenager last month. This event has raised widespread concerns about the growing influence of social media on young people. As a result, the government has taken immediate action.
Prime Minister Edi Rama confirmed that the ban will take effect in early 2024. This measure is part of a broader initiative aimed at improving safety in schools. Following meetings with parents and educators from across the country, Rama made this announcement.
“We will completely shut it down for everyone for one year. No one in Albania will have access to TikTok,” Rama stated.
Several European countries, such as France, Germany, and Belgium, have already imposed similar restrictions, limiting social media use among children. In addition, Australia introduced a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16, which began in November.
Rama has frequently expressed concerns about the role social media, particularly TikTok, plays in encouraging violence among young people both inside and outside of schools. Furthermore, he believes that platforms like TikTok contribute to harmful behaviours among youth.
The government’s decision follows the tragic stabbing of a 14-year-old schoolboy in November. According to local reports, a dispute between the two boys on social media escalated into the attack. Moreover, videos on TikTok allegedly showed minors supporting the violence that occurred.
“The problem today is not our children; rather, it is ourselves. It’s our society, and platforms like TikTok that shape our youth,” Rama stated.
In response, TikTok has called for further clarification from the Albanian government regarding the situation.
“We found no evidence that either the perpetrator or the victim had TikTok accounts. Furthermore, reports confirm that videos related to the incident were shared on a different platform, not TikTok,” a TikTok spokesperson explained.
