Albania is set to impose a one-year ban on the video-sharing platform TikTok, with the restriction taking effect on Thursday, according to reports from Albanian media.
The decision follows an announcement by the Authority for Electronic and Postal Communications (AKEP).
Prime Minister Edi Rama had initially revealed plans to ban TikTok in December, though he did not specify when the restriction would begin. The move is based on concerns that content on the platform poses risks to children and young people.
Discussions surrounding the potential dangers of TikTok gained momentum in Albania following a tragic incident last year, in which a 14-year-old student was fatally stabbed.
Reports indicate that the conflict stemmed from an online confrontation between two groups of youths on TikTok, ultimately escalating into violence.
According to local media, AKEP has instructed internet service providers to block access to TikTok by Thursday and to submit official documentation confirming the enforcement of the ban.
Despite the restriction, users may still find ways to bypass the block through virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow users to access content as if they were in another country.