TIRANA, Oct 30 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama has called for a broad debate on restricting minors’ access to social media in Albania, saying consultations with parents and teachers would be held in schools nationwide to discuss possible age limits.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Council for the Rights and Protection of Children, Rama said discussions should focus on whether access should be restricted until the age of 16 or 18, preventing minors from opening personal social media accounts.
“We need to start a debate on how and when to restrict minors’ access to social media, and whether the age limit should be 16 or 18,” Rama said, adding that the issue had become a growing concern in several democratic countries.
The government head also called for a broader range of social and cultural activities for children, saying opportunities should extend beyond sports to include theatre, painting, crafts, art, film and photography.
Rama said the government planned to introduce extended school hours from the next academic year, backed by dedicated funding. The initiative would allow children to remain in a structured and supervised environment after classes, while enabling parents to continue working.
He said the aim was to provide children with a more organised daily routine and greater opportunities for learning and development beyond regular school hours.
The prime minister also addressed the climate of public debate, expressing concern over cases in which individuals felt threatened or intimidated because of their views.
No one should face pressure or intimidation for expressing an opinion, he said, describing reports of threats against students and parents as particularly concerning.
Rama said he had received dozens of messages from students asking to remain anonymous because they feared intimidation, as well as from parents who felt powerless in the face of threats directed at their children.
He urged institutions and civil society organisations to continue discussions over the coming months and help develop a coordinated approach to protecting children’s rights and well-being.
/gj.m/a.f/u.sh/
