Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the Chinese short video platform TikTok’s overseas version will be banned for at least one year starting from early 2025.
According to Reuters, on Saturday, December 21, Rama stated during a meeting with Albanian teachers, parents, and psychologists that “TikTok is a troublemaker in the community.”
“We will drive this troublemaker out of our community for a year,” he said.
He further added that the government will initiate projects to “serve student education and help parents track their children’s whereabouts.”
Less than a month ago, a tragic incident occurred near a school in the capital city of Tirana, where a 14-year-old student was fatally stabbed by another student. The altercation began with an argument on social media platforms.
This violent event sparked protests among parents nationwide, and psychologists and educational institutions engaged in discussions on the impact of social networks on young people.
“In China, TikTok (referring to the Chinese version of Douyin) promotes how students can learn, protect nature, and maintain traditions, but on TikTok outside of China, all we see is scum and filth. Why do we need that?” Rama questioned.
TikTok uses unrestricted super short videos to attract young users and has over 1 billion active users globally.
TikTok faces the risk of being banned in the United States and is under investigation by the European Union for alleged election interference.
The platform has been prohibited from usage by personnel from various national agencies in multiple countries.
Following the tragedy, Rama issued a statement after concluding a cabinet meeting, stating that some countries have already prohibited individuals under 16 from accessing social networks. He pondered on whether to continue implementing filtering devices, noting their limited effectiveness and the escalating incidents of online incitement, violence, and bullying.
“Perhaps we should make a bold decision to completely ban TikTok and Snapchat in Albania,” he proposed at the time.
He mentioned that the proposal would be submitted for discussion with parents to enable all schools to make a decision.
Regarding measures to ensure school safety, Rama previously announced a plan to install cameras in every school and classroom for monitoring activities.