Albania, a small country in Europe, has just announced a year-long ban on TikTok, starting in early 2025. The decision was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama on December 21, after a meeting with representatives of parents and teachers nationwide.
The ban was introduced to improve school safety, following the stabbing death of a 14-year-old boy by a classmate in November. According to local media, the incident followed controversy on social media, and videos advocating violence between minors also appeared on TikTok.
Prime Minister Rama criticized TikTok and social media in general for their negative influence on young people. He said: "The problem today is not our children, it is us, this society and platforms like TikTok that have taken over the minds of children."
TikTok responded, asking the Albanian government to clarify the reason for the ban. A TikTok representative said that there was no evidence that the victim or the perpetrator had an account on the platform. Instead, videos related to the incident were posted on another platform.
Albania is not the only European country to impose restrictions on social media. France, Germany and Belgium have previously taken similar measures, while Australia has passed a complete ban on social media for children under 16.
