Albania has imposed a one-year ban on TikTok due to the threat to children

The Albanian government has announced a one-year ban on TikTok after the tragedy: a 14-year-old boy was killed by a classmate after an argument on the social network.

The decision to ban TikTok comes after the death of a teenager caused by a conflict that started on social networks. Prime Minister Edi Rama said “TikTok is holding our children hostage” and more than 90% of parents support the ban. The ban will take effect early next year.

TikTok has denied involvement, saying the conflict was unrelated to the platform. However, the Albanian government rejected these claims, stressing the threat that social networks pose to children and teenagers.

Other countries, including France, Germany and Australia, have previously introduced restrictions on children’s use of social media, but Albania has become the first European country to ban TikTok outright.

• The tragedy occurred after a quarrel between two teenagers on TikTok, which turned into physical aggression. After the incident, videos appeared on the platform supporting the attacker’s actions, which was the last straw for the Albanian government. In the world, TikTok and other social networks are increasingly accused of having a negative impact on the mental health of young people and increasing the level of aggression.

Albania’s decision could set a precedent for other countries seeking to strengthen control over the influence of social media on children. This highlights the importance of developing mechanisms to protect young people from harmful content.