Albania will block access to TikTok for at least a year starting in early 2025, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Saturday.
Speaking at a meeting in Tirana with teachers, parents, and psychologists, Rama referred to TikTok as the thug of the neighbourhood and declared, “We are going to chase this thug out of our neighbourhood for one year.”
The decision follows an incident last month in which a 14-year-old student was killed, and another injured in a fight near a school in Tirana. The altercation was reportedly triggered by a confrontation on social media, reigniting debates about the harmful influence of social platforms on young people.
Rama stated that the government would launch educational programs to support students and help parents monitor their children’s digital activities. He criticised TikTok for promoting harmful content, contrasting it with its educational focus in China. “Why do we need this scum and mud?” he asked.
With over one billion active users worldwide, TikTok has faced global scrutiny. In the United States, it has been accused of espionage, while the European Union is investigating claims it influenced Romania’s presidential election. The app has already been banned in state institutions across multiple countries.
