In Albania, the online network TikTok, which is particularly popular among children and young people, will be completely disabled from early 2025. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the video platform would be blocked for at least a year.
“TikTok is the crook of the neighborhood,” Rama said on Saturday during a meeting with teachers, parents and psychologists in Tirana. “We will drive this thief out of our neighborhood for a year.” Albania will close the service for a year from January and start educational programs for children, the head of government said. Parents should also be supported in ‘supporting their children’s careers’.
The measure comes a few weeks after a 14-year-old was killed and another injured in a dispute between students in Tirana that started in the online media. The case sparked a debate among psychologists, parents and educational institutions about the influence of online networking on teenagers and children.
“In China, TikTok spreads information about how students can take classes, protect nature and maintain customs. Why do you only see trash and filth on TikTok outside of China? Do we need this?’ Rama said.
Platform controversial in many countries
The video platform TikTok, belonging to the Chinese group ByteDance, is very controversial in many countries. At the end of November, the Australian parliament decided to ban social media for young people under the age of 16.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described social media as a “platform for peer pressure, a fear monger, a tool for fraudsters and a tool for online sex offenders.” He would like to see Australia’s youth get away from their mobile phone screens and take up sport instead.
Several states restrict online networking
Several states had previously restricted children’s access to online networks. The Spanish parliament passed an age limit of 16 for access to social media platforms in June. In the US state of Florida, a law will come into effect in January that will ban children under the age of 14 from setting up social media accounts.
Source: Krone
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