Albania will ban TikTok for at least a year, starting in early 2025.
Euroactiv writes that during a meeting in Tirana with Albanian teachers, parents and psychologists, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that “TikTok is the gangster next door.”
He added that the government will launch programs that will “serve the education of students and help parents monitor the lives of their children.”
The blocking of the controversial social network comes less than a month after a 14-year-old student was killed and another injured in a brawl outside a school in Tirana that began as a standoff on social media.
The murder has sparked a national debate among parents, psychologists and educational institutions about the impact of social media on young people.
In China, TikTok promotes how students can take courses, how to protect nature, how to preserve traditions, but on TikTok outside of China, we only see scum and dirt. Why do we need this? – asks Rama.
TikTok is also facing spying allegations in the US and is challenging a court ruling requiring the platform to sell it to a US owner by January 19, 2025 or face a ban from operating in the country.
In Europe, TikTok is under investigation by the European Commission over allegations it was used to influence the Romanian presidential election in favor of a far-right candidate. Croatian politicians also fear TikTok will play a role in their presidential elections at the end of December.
The platform has been banned for use by government employees in several countries, notably Sweden.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.