On March 6, the Albanian government enacted a one-year ban on TikTok access within its borders.

The initiative to block TikTok was proposed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the end of the previous year, as reported by Radio Free Europe’s Kosovo service.

The government stated that this decision followed consultations with parents and educators, with an inter-institutional group recommending the temporary closure of the platform.

“This is a temporary shutdown of TikTok access. We have set a one-year timeframe to implement all necessary measures in collaboration with representatives from the platform to ensure that access does not pose risks to children and young people. The National Cybersecurity Agency will be prepared to execute this temporary suspension of TikTok access within a few days or weeks,” said Education Minister Ogerta Manastirliu.

She also mentioned that information from state police indicated that numerous videos and other materials promoting violence and abuse were disseminated on this platform.

According to her, approximately 65,000 parents participated in over 1,300 meetings and expressed support for either closing or restricting TikTok.

Discussions with parents and teachers commenced following the stabbing incident of a primary school student in Tirana on November 18, 2024.

On that date, Martin Cani, a nine-year-old student at the “Fan Noli” school, was stabbed by a peer in the heart of Tirana.

In the aftermath of his murder, videos featuring minors confessing to the crime spread across TikTok.

Additionally, a few days after the incident, a photo of the arrested perpetrator emerged, showcasing an injury on his hand, raised high.

Subsequently, the Albanian government proposed two measures aimed at addressing the influence of social media platforms TikTok and Snapchat on children.

In response to the government’s decision, opposition leader Sali Berisha criticized the move, accusing the government of censoring the platform amid an electoral campaign. He contended that the underlying issue was the government’s fear of free speech and its effects on the youth, calling for protests in Tirana on March 15th.

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