Albania will block TikTok in the coming days due to concerns about children’s safety, as confirmed by the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
This follows the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old, which may have been sparked by disputes on social media. The government announced the one-year ban in late December.
“We say what we do, and we do what we say,” Rama wrote in a post on X on Thursday, reaffirming that the ban will soon take effect. The decision was made after consultations with 65,000 parents and teachers and after assessing the technical feasibility of the ban.
Opposition leaders have criticized the move, claiming it is an abuse of power to restrict freedom of speech in Albania, and expressing concerns over the lack of due process. Back in December, Rama had mentioned that it would take six to eight weeks to implement the ban.
In the meantime, the government has engaged in “very positive dialogue” with TikTok, with the company planning to visit Albania to present child safety measures.
