Albania on Saturday announced a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular short video app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised fears over the influence of social media on children.
The ban, part of a broader plan to make schools safer, will come into effect early next year, prime minister Edi Rama said after meeting with parents’ groups and teachers from across the country.
“For one year, we’ll be completely shutting it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania,” Mr Rama said.
TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.
‘We need Macron to act.’ The view in Mayotte, the French island territory steamrolled by cyclone Chido
Gisèle Pelicot has rewritten her story – and electrified women all over the world. But what about men?
Berlin culture cuts described as ‘death knell’ for city’s future
‘Shame has changed sides’: Supporters thank Gisèle Pelicot for her bravery as mass rape trial ends
Several European countries including France, Germany and Belgium have enforced restrictions on social media use for children. In one of the world’s toughest regulations targeting big tech, Australia approved in November a complete social media ban for children under 16.
[ TikTok’s Irish arm sets aside $1bn to cover cost of possible data breach finesOpens in new window ]
Mr Rama has blamed social media, and TikTok in particular, for fuelling violence among youth in and outside school.
His government's decision comes after a 14-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death in November by a fellow pupil. Local media had reported that the incident followed arguments between the two boys on social media. Videos had also emerged on TikTok of minors supporting 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,” Mr Rama said. – Reuters
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024