Albania is set to implement an annual ban on the use of Tiktok following a tragic incident involving a teenager, as reported by Reuters. Prime Minister Eddie Rama announced the complete blocking of the popular short video service starting from the next year. The decision came after consultations with parental groups and teachers across the country, with Rama stating that the ban is part of a larger plan to enhance security in schools.
The stringent measures were prompted by the murder of a 14-year-old schoolboy in November, resulting from a conflict between two students on social media. Subsequently, videos surfaced on Tiktok showing underage users expressing approval for the crime. Albanian authorities view social networks, particularly Tiktok, as fueling an escalation of violence among young individuals both within educational institutions and in society at large. Prime Minister Rama underscored that the issue lies not with the children themselves but with the modern societal norms and social platforms that “take children hostage.”
Meanwhile, representatives from Tiktok have requested urgent clarifications from the Albanian government. The company denies finding any evidence of accounts belonging to the individuals involved in the incident and asserts that the related video content was actually posted on a different platform.