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The Albanian government has announced a ban on the social media platform TikTok for a period of at least one year, beginning in 2025.
During a meeting with parents, educators, and mental health professionals in Tirana on Saturday, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the decision, stating that there are increasing concerns about the platform’s influence on youth.
Rama expressed his displeasure with TikTok’s influence on young Albanians in his statement. “We are going to chase this thug out of our neighborhood for one year,” Rama stated, referring to the platform. Additionally, he mentioned that the government would be implementing a number of programs to assist parents in keeping tabs on their children’s internet use and to bolster students’ academic performance.
This decision is in response to the tragic events of November when a 14-year-old student was murdered and another injured in a violent fight outside of a Tirana school. Reports say that the fight started with an argument on TikTok. This has led to a lot of discussion in the country’s educational and psychological groups about how important social media is in young people’s lives.
A Global Concern: TikTok’s Negative Impact
Rama also brought attention to the fact that TikTok content in China differs from that in the rest of the globe, highlighting the detrimental impacts that exist outside of China. When it comes to China, TikTok is all about helping students take classes, preserving nature, and honoring traditions. However, outside of China, all we see on TikTok is garbage. His question, “Why do we need this?” echoes the government’s position on the platform’s negative impact.
It’s becoming more and more worrying around the world that TikTok can hurt weaker groups, especially kids and teens. This is why the Prime Minister spoke out. North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo—all of which are neighbors of Albania are among the several countries that have reported concerning instances associated with viral TikTok challenges.
Two months ago, a troubling trend was identified in Kosovo when 22 incidents of self-harm among Gjakova schoolgirls were connected to a TikTok challenge. Teenagers in North Macedonia ended up in the hospital after trying the “Superman” challenge jumping onto people’s connected arms and hurting themselves. According to reports, some Novi Pazar high school pupils participated in a risky “choking” challenge. Since then, the platform has added a caution banner to alert users of the hazards involved while searching for this kind of task.
Warnings from Neighboring Countries
Controversy about TikTok’s impact extends beyond these countries. With over a billion users worldwide, the network has been under investigation for possible voting tampering in Romania and accused of espionage in the US. Some countries, like the US and some European nations, have also made it illegal for government workers to use TikTok, claiming concerns about national security.
TikTok’s interactive “challenges” and short-form video content continue to attract millions of young users, despite growing criticism. As social media becomes more popular, concerns about its impact on young people and the spread of dangerous trends remain a central topic in discussions on regulation.
