In a decisive move to address concerns over social media’s influence on children, Albania has announced a nationwide, one-year ban on TikTok following the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in November.

Prime Minister Edi Rama declared the ban after holding 1,300 meetings with parents and teachers nationwide, aiming to make schools safer. "For one year, we'll be completely shutting it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania," Rama said.

The ban, effective early next year, comes as part of a larger initiative to protect students and foster cooperation between parents and schools. Authorities will implement increased police presence, training programs, and monitoring measures in schools.

The Prime Minister cited social media, particularly TikTok, as a catalyst for youth violence. Reports indicate that the fatal school stabbing stemmed from social media disputes, with videos on TikTok showing minors glorifying the incident.

"The problem today is not our children; the problem today is us, the problem today is our society," Rama said, highlighting the need for collective responsibility.

Albania’s TikTok ban aligns with broader global scrutiny of social media. European nations, including France, Germany, and Belgium, have imposed restrictions on children’s social media use. Australia recently enacted a complete ban on social media for children under 16.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has faced espionage accusations in the United States and is under investigation by the European Union.

Prime Minister Rama said Albania will evaluate TikTok’s compliance and the global response to the ban before deciding whether to lift it after one year. (ILKHA)