Albania has announced a 12-month ban on TikTok, following a tragic incident in which a teenager was killed. The government is citing concerns about violence and social media's influence on minors as the reasons behind the ban.
The incident occurred in November when a 14-year-old was stabbed to death by a fellow student after an argument that reportedly began on social media. Following the tragedy, videos surfaced on TikTok showing support for the murder, prompting swift action by the Albanian government.
A Broader Plan
According to reports from Reuters, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama made the official announcement after discussions with parents’ groups and teachers. The ban is part of a larger plan to enhance school safety. Rama has also pointed towards TikTok for fueling violence among youth, following similar social media restrictions put in place in countries such as Belgium, France, and Germany.
"The problem exists in our society, TikTok, and other elements that are attempting to take these children hostage." - Edi Rama, Albanian Prime Minister.
TikTok has responded that it seeks urgent clarification from the government regarding the ban, with a spokesperson stating that no evidence has been found that the victim or perpetrator possessed TikTok accounts.
"We found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok." - TikTok Spokesperson
Enforcement Challenges
While the Albanian government will instruct internet service providers and carriers to block TikTok for a year, questions remain about how they will prevent users from accessing the app using VPNs. This issue has yet to be addressed.
