Official announcements from the Albanian government or news reports confirming the start of the ban

Albania to Ban TikTok for One Year Starting January 2025 After Teen's Killing

Dec 21, 2024, 04:49 PM

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the government will ban TikTok for at least one year starting on January 1, 2025. The decision marks the first such ban in Europe and follows the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old last month, which raised concerns over the influence of social media on youth and school violence. Rama referred to TikTok as 'the thug of the neighborhood' during a meeting in Tirana with teachers, parents, and psychologists. The ban is part of an action plan to strengthen school safety mechanisms. After the one-year period, officials will reevaluate the ban.