The world of social media has been a double edged sword for ages, as on one side it has brought unity among people, while on the other, it has contributed to controversies, misinformation, and sometimes even violence. The situation in Albania has taken a strange turn, as the government imposed a ban on TikTok, referring to concerns over inclinations toward youth violence and harmful content.
As the Albanian government’s year-long ban on TikTok has made it increasingly difficult for TikTok users to access the trending short video application, the decision was fueled by concerns allegedly that some have used the platform to brew youth violence and has provoked debates around online safety, censorship, and political motives. The implementation of this ban is on the go, it has raised a fiery debate, is this a needful measure to protect young users, or is this a bad example of digital censorship?
TikTok’s Ban
According to Reuters, the Albanian government began to ban TikTok on Thursday, initially restricting access to the webpage but allowing the mobile app to function. A government official said that the app itself will soon be blocked and that they have been instructed to ensure the settlement.
The TikTok ban followed after a tragic incident last November, where a 14 year old boy was stabbed to death by a fellow student after an argument erupted between them and escalated on social media. This horrible event intensified concerns regarding the potential role of digital platforms to provoke violence among teenagers. After that, the government acted and announced the ban in December, putting it into effect a few months later.
Global Trend
The TikTok ban at this point has become a trend worldwide, as Albanian government’s decision of the ban is in line with at least 20 other countries that have either fully or partially prohibited the application due to issues like data security, unpleasant content, and national security risks. Other countries like the U.S. and India have cited cybersecurity risks and privacy violations, while the reason behind Albania’s ban is to contain violent and aggressive behavior among youths.
However, TikTok counters these claims, saying that their platform wasn’t responsible for the clips associated with the killing’s stabbings, and the company is seeking additional clarifications from the Albanian government because it says that the mentioned videos were posted on another site.
TikTok said it had
“found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok.”
The agenda behind the Ban
The ban has reignited a stormy debate about freedom in the world of the internet, as Isa Myzyraj, head of the Association of Journalists in Albania (AJA), declared that the ban would be something that will lead its way to the Constitutional Court for violation of freedom of expression.
Myzyraj in his post on X, said,
“The government of Albania decided today to ban TikTok with a clear act against freedom of speech. The country is quickly sliding into authoritarianism”.
He said,
“We fear that, in the same way, the government may also shut down other social networks and one day even ban the internet entirely”
The opposition Democratic Party also shares similar fears and accuses Prime Minister Edi Rama of using the ban as a tool for silencing the opposition. TikTok has turned into a popular platform for the criticism of the government, and contrary to its popular view, opposition leaders argue that this ban is politically motivated and not aimed at genuinely protecting young users. In contrast, Rama has denied such tendencies, insisting his government does not intend to suppress free speech because the instrument propagates harmful material.
No easy resolution to this TikTok ban debate would seem forthcoming any time soon. Opposition leaders have already called for mass protests in what they consider to be an extreme action of government power. The defenders of the ban argue that it is the only way to control the adverse influence of social media on Albanian youth. With the government now enforcing the restrictions, the Albanian decision to suspend TikTok could provide an interesting case study as countries grapple with balancing digital freedom against public safety concerns.
Protecting the youth from anything harmful online is a genuine concern, but complete censorship could be determined to be a very bad example. If one platform can be shut down today, what stops the authorities from targeting others tomorrow? An equilibrium between digital safety and free expression will be of utmost importance, otherwise the line separating protection from control could fade to a point of being unrecognizable.
