14-year-old's death leads to one-year TikTok ban in Albania

Albania has announced a one-year ban on TikTok following the tragic stabbing of a teenager, raising concerns over the impact of social media on young people.

Prime Minister Edi Rama confirmed the decision on Saturday after meeting with parent groups and teachers from across the country. The ban, which will come into effect early next year, is part of the government’s response to the killing of a 14-year-old boy last month, allegedly following an argument sparked on social media.

For one year, we’ll be completely shutting it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania,” Rama said.

The Albanian government’s move follows the fatal stabbing of the teenager in November by a classmate after the two engaged in a dispute over social media. Following the incident, Albanian authorities held over 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents to address growing concerns about online safety.

The Prime Minister has specifically blamed TikTok for exacerbating violence among young people both inside and outside of schools. Videos had emerged on the platform showing minors expressing support for the killing.

“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,” Rama said.

At the time of the announcement, there was no immediate response from TikTok. The Albanian government indicated that the one-year shutdown would be assessed based on the reactions from the company and other countries before any potential decision to lift the ban.

However, the opposition has strongly opposed the ban. Ina Zhupa, a lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party, denounced the decision as an attack on democratic freedoms.

“The dictatorial decision to close the social media platform TikTok … is a grave act against freedom of speech and democracy,” Zhupa said. “It is a pure electoral act and abuse of power to suppress freedoms.”

Albania’s decision comes amid growing scrutiny of social media use by children. Several European countries, including France, Germany, and Belgium, have implemented restrictions on social media platforms for minors. Australia recently introduced one of the world’s strictest regulations, banning social media for children under 16.

TikTok, which boasts more than one billion active users worldwide, has faced increasing scrutiny in several countries. In the United States, the app has been accused of espionage, while the European Union is investigating claims it was used to influence Romania’s presidential election in favour of a far-right candidate.

The app has become particularly popular among younger users, drawing them in with its endless stream of short, user-generated videos.