The social network company TikTok has reacted to Prime Minister Edi Rama's decision to ban this platform in Albania, starting next year, after the fight between teenagers near the "Fan Noli" school, where 14-year-old Martin Cani lost his life (November 18, 2024).
In a response to the Associated Press, the social media company TikTok said it had found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had a TikTok account, and multiple reports have confirmed that the videos that led to this tragedy were posted on another platform, not TikTok.
The head of government announced yesterday (December 21) during a meeting with teachers and parents that during the year of application of the measure, it will be seen how other countries act and whether filters will be placed on the social network.
"It's the neighborhood street urchin that we fear the child will associate with when he leaves the house. We will close TikTok for a year. We have done research and it will take us 6-8 weeks starting from the beginning of January and for 1 year completely for everyone. TikTok will not exist in the Republic of Albania. During that year we will see how countries will act, what filter technology will come out with, how TikTok itself will react", said Rama at the last closing meeting of the public consultation", said Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The decision came after a month of consultations between education officials and parents. The TikTok shutdown is expected to be accompanied by the installation of cameras in and around schools, new rules on cell phones during school hours, a doubling of school security officers, and stronger coordination between them and state police./Associated Press