Albania Implements Year-Long TikTok Ban Over Child Safety Concerns

The government cites a fatal stabbing linked to social media and widespread parental support as reasons for the decision, while opposition leaders criticize it as censorship.

• Albania's government has decided to block TikTok for 12 months, citing concerns about violence and bullying among children influenced by social media content.
• The decision follows a fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old in November, which started as an argument on social media, sparking national debate about the impact of platforms like TikTok on youth behavior.
• Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the ban in December and confirmed its implementation this week after consulting with 65,000 parents and teachers, many of whom supported the move.
• The government is in ongoing discussions with TikTok, which plans to introduce child safety measures, including parental controls and language support, in Albania.
• Opposition leaders have condemned the ban as an attack on free speech, claiming it will hinder their ability to campaign ahead of parliamentary elections in May.

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