The decision comes following the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old teenager which reportedly resulted from an argument on social media.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the TikTok ban for one year across the country, accusing the platform of inciting violence among young people. The ban will come into force in early 2025.
The decision comes in the wake of the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old student last month, allegedly caused by a dispute with a colleague on social media.
Addressing the nation on Saturday, Rama highlighted the widespread influence of social media platforms, pointing to TikTok as a significant contributor to violence among young people. “For a year, we will close it completely to everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania”, he declared. The prime minister called for introspection, declaring: “Today’s problem is not our children, today’s problem is us, our society and TikTok.”
Local media reported that the incident originated from arguments between the two boys on social media. In the aftermath of the tragedy, videos emerged on TikTok showing young people supporting the violent act, further fueling outrage, explains .
TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, reacted by asking the Albanian government for “urgent clarification”. The company, as reported by the Associated Press, claimed that found no evidence that linked the victim or attacker to TikTok accounts. Furthermore, the company claims that the videos that led to the incident were published on another platform.
In addition to the ban, authorities are implementing broader measures to combat youth violence. These include a greater police presence in schools and stronger collaboration with parents to protect students.
The Albanian move highlights growing concerns across Europe about the impact of social media on children’s well-being. Several European Union countries, including France, Germany and Belgium, have introduced restrictions on use of social networks by minorsas well as Australia, which banned the use of these platforms for young people under 16.
Although it is not yet known how effective this measure will be, the ban in Albania has sparked a new debate about the responsibility of digital platforms and the role of governments in regulating online content.
