THE’Albania he decided to block TikTok for a year throughout the national territory, a measure that will come into force in the first weeks of 2025. The measure, announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama, is part of a broader plan aimed at strengthen children’s safetyparticularly in the school environment.
This decision was also taken following a tragic episode that recently shook the country: in Tirana, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death by a peer near the school they attended. The episode was triggered by a dispute started on the TikTok platform.
Rama described TikTok as a “neighborhood scoundrel”, a figure who attracts young people but whose negative influence parents fear. He also underlined that the platform “he is taking our children hostage”, fueling a climate of violence and misinformation among young people.
There will also be educational initiatives and awareness programmes
Immediately after the murder, the government began consultations with teachers and parents to understand the community’s concerns. From the discussions it emerged that over 90% of the people interviewed asked for closure of the social network.
The new policy includes not only temporary blocking of the app, but also educational initiatives to help parents and teachers better monitor children’s behavior. Programs will be developed for raise awareness students on the conscious use of technology and social media, as well as providing tools to prevent episodes of violence and cyberbullying.
It is not only Albania that is taking action against TikTok and other social networks. Several European countries, including France, Germany and Belgium, have introduced restrictions on the use of social media by minors. In Australiachildren under 16 were recently banned from using social media platforms, one of the strictest regulations in the world against Big Tech.
In this global context of growing concern for online security, the blocking of TikTok in Albania represents one of the most radical decisions. It is a response to a tragedy that has profoundly shaken public opinion, but also an attempt to address the broader problem of the impact of social media on the lives of young people. The measure will be monitored and evaluated during 2025, with the aim of balancing the protection of minors with respect for digital freedom.
