Albania bans TikTok for one year following teenager's killing

Albania announced on Saturday a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised concerns over social media's influence on children, Reuters reported.

The decision, part of a broader initiative to improve school safety, will take effect early next year, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama, who met with parents' groups and teachers from across the country.

"For one year, we'll completely shut it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania," Rama stated.

Several European nations, including France, Germany, and Belgium, have imposed restrictions on social media use for children, while Australia has enacted one of the strictest regulations, banning social media for children under 16. Rama has blamed social media, particularly TikTok, for fueling violence among youth both in and out of schools.

The government's decision follows the stabbing death of a 14-year-old boy in November by a fellow student. Reports suggest the altercation was sparked by arguments on social media, with videos on TikTok showing minors expressing support for the killing.

"The problem today is not our children, the problem today is us, the problem today is our society, the problem today is TikTok and all the others that are taking our children hostage," Rama declared.

In response, TikTok said it was seeking "urgent clarity" from the Albanian government, adding, "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," a company spokesperson said.