Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama announced Saturday that the government will shut down the video-sharing service TikTok for one year. He cited the platform’s role in inciting violence and bullying, particularly among children, as the reason for the ban. This decision follows the stabbing death of a teenager in mid-November, an incident allegedly stemming from a quarrel that originated on TikTok. Following the tragedy, Albanian authorities conducted 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents to address the issue.
Rama, speaking at a meeting with educators and parents, declared that TikTok “would be fully closed for all” in Albania, with the shutdown commencing sometime next year. It remains unclear whether TikTok maintains a direct contact in the country. In response to a request for comment, TikTok stated that they had “found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts,” further claiming that videos related to the incident appeared on a different platform. The company urged the Albanian government to provide “urgent clarity” on the matter.
Domestic research indicates that Albanian children constitute the largest user group of TikTok within the country. Growing concerns among parents have emerged due to reports of children bringing weapons to school, motivated by online content promoting quarrels and bullying. Rama highlighted the contrast between TikTok’s operations in China, where its parent company is based, describing them as promoting “how to better study, how to preserve nature,” and the platform’s perceived negative influence in Albania. He argued that Albania’s size precludes forcing TikTok to alter its algorithm to mitigate the spread of “the unending hell of the language of hatred, violence, bullying and so on.” His office further emphasized that TikTok’s operations in China actively prevent children from engaging with harmful content.
In response to the situation, Albanian authorities have implemented protective measures in schools, including increased police presence, training programs, and enhanced cooperation with parents. Rama stated that Albania’s decision to allow TikTok to resume operations after the one-year ban will depend on the company’s response and the reactions of other countries to the shutdown.
However, the decision has not been universally welcomed. Ina Zhupa, a lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party, criticized the ban as a “dictatorial decision…a grave act against freedom of speech and democracy,” characterizing it as an “electoral act and abuse of power to suppress freedoms.” This announcement comes ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for next year in Albania.