Saturday evening in Tirana, the capital of Albania, finds 14-year-old Martin B. seated on the sidewalk in front of the building housing the Prime Minister’s office. Joined by hundreds of fellow youth, Martin participates in a protest against the government’s decision to suspend TikTok for 12 months.

The demonstration, instigated by the Albanian opposition, follows Prime Minister Edi Rama’s decision to outlaw the short-form video-sharing app, which he claims is promoting youth violence in schools. Martin B., however, argues that the ban won’t resolve the problem and may only lead to young people seeking alternative, potentially more insecure platforms to connect.

The ban was sparked by a tragedy involving another 14-year-old named Martin, who was fatally stabbed at school following a social media dispute. His father, Engjell Cani, disputes the government’s reasoning, stating that his son never used TikTok and condemning the political exploitation of their tragedy.

TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, has stated that Martin Cani was not one of its users and argues that the platform was not involved in the preceding events leading to the stabbing. Despite initial diplomatic discussions suggesting a possible review of the decision, the government moved forward with the ban on March 13, prompting accusations of election-related censorship from opposition leaders.

The ban reflects similar actions in over 20 countries, raising global concerns over content and cybersecurity issues associated with TikTok. Opposition leader Sali Berisha suggests TikTok will be restored the day after the May 11 general election, adding that freedom of expression, rather than censorship, should prevail. Meanwhile, Martin B. remains uncertain if the ban will effectively curb bullying and violence in Albanian schools.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/protest-in-tirana-at-albanian-government-s-tiktok-ban/a-71949926?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf