Albania's prime minister has announced that the country will ban TikTok for a year, citing violence and bullying among children following the death of a teenager.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the app was “completely closed to everyone” and that “TikTok does not exist in the Republic of Albania.” Associated Press reported.
Closure is expected to begin in 2025.
The Hill has reached out to TikTok for comment, but in a statement to The Associated Press, the company said it was seeking “urgent clarification from the Albanian government” about the incident involving an Albanian teenager. said.
In November, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death by a classmate. Local media reported that the incident occurred after arguments supporting the murder surfaced on social media and other videos. Reuters reported.
The ban is part of a larger effort to make schools safer. Officials have held more than 1,000 meetings with teachers and parents since the death.
“The one-year ban on TikTok in Albania is not a hasty response to a single incident, but a carefully considered decision in consultation with the school parent community across the country,” Rama said.
While 90% of parents approve of the ban, younger generations, who make up the majority of app users, do not. Associated Press reported.
