Albania has officially banned TikTok for a 12-month period, accusing the platform of promoting violence and bullying, particularly among children. The decision was announced by the Albanian government on Thursday.
Minister of Education Ogerta Manastirliu confirmed that discussions are ongoing with TikTok to implement features like parental controls and to include the Albanian language on the app. “The authorities have held 1,300 meetings with about 65,000 parents, who ‘recommended and spoke in favor of closing or restricting the TikTok platform,'” she added.
The government’s move comes in the wake of a tragic incident in November, when a teenager killed another after an argument that began on TikTok. Following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s comments in December about the potential closure of TikTok, the company sought “urgent clarity from the Albanian government.”
On Thursday, Rama emphasized that the government is engaged in “a positive dialogue with the company” to implement “a series of measures to enhance child safety.”
