Closing Tik Tok: a solution for society or a campaign pitfall?

The government declared Tik Tok an enemy of society, especially of children, placing the blame for the failure of safety in schools squarely on the social platform.

Undoubtedly, social networks often become a cause for violence, quarrels and conflicts between teenagers and not only. But, the closure of Tik Tok cannot remove the stain of shame of a minister who was melting down while the opposition demanded an explanation for the murder of 14-year-old Martin Cani, near the 9-year-old "Fan Noli" school in Tirana.

The justification for the closure of Tik Tok

Rama and Manastirliu announced the decision to close Tik Tok for a year. The Prime Minister expressed that he felt relieved about the closure of Tik Tok, but forgetting that today children circulate in schools and on the streets with cutting tools, knives, and even guns.

However, it seems as if the government has seen the closure of the social platform as an excuse to show that this measure will put an end to arguments, conflicts, and bullying among teenagers.

"Today I feel relieved that in a short period of time, after a broad and comprehensive discussion with all the factors that are directly related to this sphere of education and safety of our children, we have a concrete product, with concrete measures, and we are certain that by implementing this plan we will have a better and safer education system," said Rama.

That neighborhood street urchin called TikTok is much stronger, much more influential, much more attractive.

"We will close TikTok for a year. Keep in mind that we have done all our research in terms of technology and it will take us 6-8 weeks from the beginning of next year and we will close TikTok for a year. TikTok will not exist in the Republic of Albania. We will see how other governments will function, how TikTok itself will react," Rama said.

But how much does Tik Tok solve the alarming situation with teenagers? The social platform often becomes a danger for quarrels and conflicts or challenges that endanger the lives of children. However, more alarming is the fact that today some children move freely inside school premises with knives and in one case, even with firearms.

Many videos have been circulating online where fearless children advertise knives in schools and then on social media. So far, no measures have been announced by the government to end the 'street fighting' that, in fact, students see every day in schools.

Advocacy against Manastirliu

The murder of Martin Cani sparked a reaction from all citizens and public opinion, who unanimously called for the resignation of the Minister of Education, Ogerta Manastirliu. But the minister, in order to save her seat, blamed the serious incident on Tik Tok.

However, the call of the parents of a 14-year-old killed near the school, and hundreds of other parents, fell on deaf ears to Rama, who expressed support for Manastirliu in what the prime minister called a “transformation of education.”

"Having said all this, I want to publicly express this as a response to those who wanted to derive absurd benefits from the tragedy of a family and the loss of a life, pointing the finger at all sorts of accusations and demanding personal responsibility from the Minister of Education, who not only has my full support, but I am convinced that, just like her predecessor, she has played an important and undeniable role in the transfer of our health system, but also an undeniable role in the transformation of our education, to make it better," Rama said.

But what transformation is the prime minister talking about? The transformation that is turning children and teenagers into school "brave men"? The transformation that is allowing them to roam freely with knives in their hands? Or the transformation that is denying them education and sending them to re-education centers?

The Prime Minister does not mention such facts even though they are undeniable, the costs of which society is paying.

"Pure electoral act"

The decision to shut down Tik Tok comes a few months before the 2025 parliamentary elections.

For Democratic MP Ina Zhupa, Rama's latest move is a pure electoral act, after the failed attempt to control the platform. The Democrat writes on Facebook that Rama is afraid of Tik Tok's interactivity on the eve of the elections, addressing the platform's failure in education.

"Using the murder of a 14-year-old to solve personal problems with social networks that you cannot control is a double murder and a serious act against freedom. Rama announced today that the failed education is the fault of Tik Tok, that the knives in schools were planted by Tik Tok, that the drugs in schools were planted by Tik Tok, that the teaching in two shifts is done by Tik Tok, that the lack of results in the Pisa test is manipulated by Tik Tok, that the lack of activities in schools is Tik Tok's fault, that the failed minister was appointed by Tik Tok, that the education money was stolen by Tik Tok. Even after finding the "culprit", he will close it for 1 year.

"The dictatorial decision to close a social network like Tik Tok that it could not control is a serious act against freedom of expression and democracy. It is a pure electoral act and use of power to suppress freedoms," Zhupa writes on Facebook.