By: Bayero Ade
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that his government will impose a one-year ban on TikTok, starting in January, following the tragic death of a schoolboy last month. The incident has sparked growing concerns about the platform’s impact on children.
Speaking at a meeting with teachers, parents, and psychologists in Tirana on Saturday, Rama stated that the government would close TikTok for a year and introduce educational programs aimed at supporting students and helping parents track their children’s online activity.
The debate around the negative influence of social media on young people intensified after a violent altercation occurred near a school in southern Tirana. A 14-year-old student was fatally stabbed, and another was injured, with reports suggesting the conflict was triggered by social media interactions.
Rama criticized TikTok for its content outside China, where, he argued, the platform promotes educational and cultural values. “In China, TikTok teaches students courses, promotes environmental protection, and celebrates traditions. But outside of China, all we see is ‘scum and mud.’ Why do we need this?” he said, calling TikTok “the thug of the neighbourhood.”
The decision adds to the growing list of countries that have raised concerns about TikTok’s potential threats to national security and harmful content. The platform is already banned in several nations, including India, Iran, and Afghanistan.
In response to the announcement, TikTok requested clarification from the Albanian government. The company also noted that there was no evidence linking the suspect or the victim in the stabbing to TikTok accounts.
TikTok is facing similar challenges in the United States, where lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban the app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells it by January 19. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear TikTok’s arguments on January 10 to prevent the ban or sale.
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