Journalist and analyst from Tirana, editor at News 24, Dritan Lachi suggests that while bans are historically not new, the reason behind the TikTok ban in Albania raises questions: whether it is due to a murder among teenagers or political competition threatening Prime Minister Edi Rama’s power, Kosovo Online writes.

Lachi points out that bans are not new in world history, recalling similar measures in the past. He compares the TikTok ban to the closure of coffeehouses during the Ottoman Empire.

“Bans are known throughout the world's history. There was also a ban during the Ottoman Empire, when coffeehouses called ‘medjlis’ were closed. Prohibition also existed in the 1930s in the USA, where alcohol was banned. What is happening in Albania with TikTok is also a ban, but of a different kind. Thus, the goal is to close a ‘medjlis’ where people gather and discuss,” says the editor from Tirana.

He highlights the rise in criminal activities linked to TikTok but expresses skepticism regarding the motives of the Albanian government to ban this network.

“Skepticism arises from the fact that the prime minister of this country has indeed concluded that TikTok is precisely the cause of problems for Albanians. With this in mind, we view this initiative with suspicion. Also, there is another reason - we are in an election period,” Lachi states. He adds that TikTok indeed had an impact on children or youth like "poisoned food," but it was also massively used by young politicians who established significant influence and became well-known there.

“At a time when the government or majority has almost complete influence over traditional media, and I speak of television, these young politicians have found TikTok to express their thoughts and gain their followers. For this reason, we view with skepticism what the prime minister is seeking. It raises the question of whether the real purpose of shutting down TikTok is due to the murder that occurred among teenagers, or because of competition that threatens his power. We doubt this,” Lachi explicitly states.