Albania announced a one-year ban on TikTok from the beginning of 2025, reports Reuters. The drastic measure was taken after the murder of a teenager last November, an episode that raised concerns about the influence of social media on children.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the decision after a meeting with groups of parents and teachers from across the country. He stated that the country will “completely close” access to the app to everyone for a year. Rama blames social media, and TikTok in particular, for fueling violence among young people, both inside and outside of schools.
The Albanian government’s decision was prompted by the murder of a 14-year-old student by a fellow student. Local media reported that the incident was preceded by arguments between the two boys on social media.
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Videos also emerged on TikTok showing minors supporting the murder. Rama declared that “the problem today is not our children, the problem today is us, the problem today is our society, the problem today is TikTok and everyone else who is taking our children hostage,” reported the Reuters.
When contacted by the news agency, the company had not yet commented on the matter. Several European countries, such as France, Germany and Belgium, are increasing restrictions on the use of social networks among children. In November, Australia approved a total ban on the use of these platforms by children under 16.
