The Albanian government has announced a one-year nationwide ban on TikTok following the tragic killing of a teenager that has intensified concerns about social media’s influence on children.
The ban, which aims to make schools safer, will take effect early next year, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated after discussions with parents and teachers across the country.
“For one year, we’ll be completely shutting it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania,” Rama declared. He has attributed increasing youth violence, both in and outside schools, to the influence of social media platforms, particularly TikTok. The decision follows the stabbing of a 14-year-old schoolboy in November, reportedly after a social media argument with a fellow student. Videos supporting the incident had also surfaced on TikTok, further fueling public outrage.
Rama criticized social media’s pervasive impact, saying, “The problem today is not our children, the problem today is us, the problem today is our society, the problem today is TikTok and all the others that are taking our children hostage.”
TikTok, however, has denied involvement, claiming it found no evidence that either the victim or the perpetrator had accounts on the platform. A TikTok spokesperson stated, “We found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok.” The company is seeking “urgent clarity” from the Albanian government regarding the ban.
This bold move follows similar social media restrictions for children in countries like France, Germany, and Belgium. Australia recently passed one of the toughest regulations, completely banning social media for children under 16. Albania’s decision underscores growing global efforts to address the darker impacts of digital platforms on youth safety and well-being.
