Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the social network TikTok will be banned for one year starting in 2025.
At a meeting with teachers, parents, and psychologists in the capital, Tirana, Rama said, “TikTok is the villain of the neighbourhood. We are going to close the network for a year and roll out programs that serve the education of students and help parents follow the path of their children. “
The Albanian decision comes after a 14-year-old student was stabbed to death by a fellow pupil in November. Local media reported that the incident followed arguments between the two on social media. The murder sparked a debate about the impact of social media on young people.
And in the United States?
In the United States, TikTok is also threatened with a blanket ban. Chinese parent company ByteDance has gone to the US Supreme Court to block a law that would force the sale of its US operations by January 19. If TikTok and ByteDance do not proceed with the sale, the popular video app will be banned in the US. Many American politicians consider TikTok, with approximately 170 million American users, to threaten national security because the app is in Chinese hands.
However, newly elected US President Donald Trump said at a rally for his supporters in Phoenix (Arizona) that “he is in favour of allowing TikTok to operate in the United States for at least a while longer”.