Albania to ban TikTok for a year over allegations of inciting violence against children

(CLO) Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that his government will close the social media service TikTok for a year, accusing the app of inciting violence and bullying, especially against children.

Albanian authorities have held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents after a teenager was stabbed to death by another teenager in November over an argument that started on TikTok.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at a meeting with teachers and parents, said TikTok “will be completely closed for everyone… There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania.” Rama said the shutdown would begin at a later date.

Illustration photo.

TikTok responded to the statement by saying: "We have found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had a TikTok account, and multiple factual reports have confirmed that the videos that led to this incident were posted on a platform other than TikTok."

Albanian children are the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to researchers. Albanian parents have become increasingly concerned after reports of children bringing knives and other objects to school to use in fights or bullying spread through stories they saw on TikTok.

But TikTok’s operations in China (where its parent company is called Douyin) are different. The app “promotes better learning, conservation of nature…” according to Mr. Rama. Mr. Rama’s office said Douyin “prevents children from being sucked into this abyss.”

Mr Rama's office said Albania was too small a country to impose on TikTok to change its algorithm so the app did not promote "the endless reproduction of hellish language, violence, bullying, etc."

Mr Rama said Albania would monitor the reaction of the social media company and other countries after the one-year shutdown, before deciding whether to allow TikTok to continue operating in Albania or be permanently shut down.

Bui Huy (LBC, Euronews, AJ)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/albania-se-cam-tiktok-trong-mot-nam-voi-cao-buoc-kich-dong-tre-em-bao-luc-post326861.html