For those still naive about the recent TikTok ban in Albania, let’s set the record straight: Edi Rama, Albania’s prime minister, isn’t banning TikTok to protect children. He is shutting it down because it’s the only platform where his government’s propaganda does not dominate.
Rama, who never hesitates to use inflammatory language against opponents, has a long history of bullying and mockery. Recall his derogatory rhetoric against Fredi Beleri or his live ridicule of Agron Gjekmarkaj during a television broadcast. This is the same man who unapologetically uses vulgar expressions like “noc rroku” on national television, during hours when children are part of the audience. Protecting children? Hardly.
This is a politician who once boasted to Italian businessmen about Albania’s lack of labor unions, encouraging exploitation of the country’s workforce. The same politician who relies on artists like Noizy—known for glorifying drugs, violence, and crime—for his flashy election campaigns, posing with him in stadiums as though they were old friends.
Rama’s track record is filled with contradictions. He claims to care about Albanian children, yet after 12 years in power, Albania still lacks a central pediatric hospital. The country is chronically short on life-saving medication, even for terminally ill patients. And let’s not forget his disdain for independent media, as he prefers to distribute pre-recorded footage crafted by his own staff rather than face journalists’ questions.
This is the man who now claims TikTok is a harmful influence on Albanian youth. Yet his government has introduced individuals with criminal backgrounds into parliament. Is this really about protecting children, or about silencing a platform where people can freely voice dissent?
A Hypocritical Justification
Edi Rama justifies the TikTok ban by citing tragic incidents involving schoolchildren and claims of bullying and violence on the platform. However, the reality is far more complex. TikTok is one of the few digital spaces where opposition voices can thrive, free from the iron grip of the Socialist Party’s propaganda machine.
While Rama portrays himself as a global leader—going so far as to publish unauthorized profiles in English to boost his image—his governance paints a different picture. He presides over a country where faith in leadership, even in the most remote villages, has long died out.
The Real Motivation
The TikTok ban is not about safeguarding the future of Albanian youth. It’s a calculated move to suppress dissent and maintain control over the narrative. By cutting off access to a platform where criticism flourishes, Rama seeks to consolidate his grip on power.
This decision does nothing to address the root causes of violence or bullying among young people. Instead, it highlights the hypocrisy of a leader who bullies his critics, glorifies criminal behavior in his campaigns, and neglects the fundamental needs of his citizens.
The TikTok ban is not a policy for the people—it’s a policy for Edi Rama.