Albania on Saturday announced a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular short video app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised fears over the influence of social media on children.

PM Edi Rama announced the move after meeting parents and teachers over the effects on young people of social media.

Albania will ban TikTok for one year, after the killing of a teenager raised fears the social media app is a negative influence.

Albania’s government banned TikTok for at least a year, Albanian Daily News reported on Saturday, citing comments by Prime Minister Edi Rama to a gathering of teachers and parents in the capital Tirana.

Albania's prime minister’s decision to shut down TikTok on Sunday was criticized by the country's youth, who say the video service is not entirely responsible for crime and violence.

The Albanian government announced that starting in early 2025, it will impose a year-long ban on TikTok for all citizens. The decision is a response to the growing violence among youth, which Prime Minister Edi Rama attributes to the influence of social media.

By bne IntelliNews 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.