Albania has announced a one-year ban on TikTok in response to the killing of a 14-year-old student, which sparked a national debate about the influence of social media on youth violence. Prime Minister Edi Rama described the move as part of a broader initiative to make schools safer, following consultations with parents and teachers across the country.

The ban was prompted by the fatal stabbing of Martin Cani, a student at Fan Noli Elementary School in Tirana, by a classmate. The incident, reportedly linked to disputes on social media, has raised alarm over the role of platforms like TikTok in escalating conflicts among children.

“GOOD MORNING and with the decision made from 1,300 meetings organised throughout the country by the Ministry of Education, where 65,000 parents participated, and also from a survey conducted where over 90% of parents demanded the closure of access to the TikTok platform in Albania, I wish you a Sunday calmness,” Rama wrote on Facebook on December 22.

TikTok, responding to the ban, called for “urgent clarity from the Albanian government” regarding the case, reported Reuters. The company said it had found “no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts” and that videos related to the incident were being posted on another platform.

Rama has been vocal in his criticism of TikTok, accusing it of fueling violence both in and outside schools. He has also highlighted broader concerns about young people being drawn into harmful online content.

“This tragedy is a wake-up call for both the state and society,” Rama said during a cabinet meeting in November. “The macabre murder of a 14-year-old student by another teenager underscores the permanent threat social networks, especially TikTok and Snapchat, pose to our children.”

The government plans to assess TikTok’s compliance with the ban and reactions from other countries before deciding whether to reinstate the platform. Similar restrictions on Snapchat are also under consideration.

However, the decision has sparked criticism from political opponents. Ina Zhupa, an MP from the opposition Democratic Party, accused Rama of exploiting the tragedy for electoral gain ahead of the 2025 general election.

“The timing of this decision is a clear indicator that electoral interest is the real motive behind the unconstitutional request to shut down a social media platform like TikTok,” Zhupa wrote on Facebook, calling the move a “premeditated murder” of press freedoms. 

Albania’s move aligns with a broader global trend of increasing regulation of social media. European countries such as France, Germany and Belgium have imposed restrictions on children's use of social media, while Australia recently banned social media access for children under 16.

The influence of TikTok on politics in Southeast Europe has also come under scrutiny. In Romania, onshore far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who gained traction through TikTok, shocked observers by leading the first round of the presidential election. This has prompted the European Commission to open an inquiry. Ahead of Croatia’s December 29 presidential vote, TikTok outlined measures to prevent its misuse in electoral campaigns.