Government
Rama: A debate on banning social media under 16 or 18, children to stay at school until 5 p.m.
At the National Council for Children's Rights and Protection, the prime minister announced consultations with parents and teachers and said punishing minors involved in violence is not enough.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 30, 2026, 19:58 · Updated 19:02 · 2 min read
In brief
- Rama said it must be decided whether the age limit for personal social media accounts will be 16 or 18.
- From next school year, children will stay at school until 5 p.m., with a dedicated budget.
- The prime minister warned that violence risks becoming a tool against teachers, lecturers and institutions.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Friday that the government will launch consultations with parents and teachers in all schools on restricting minors' access to social media. He spoke at a meeting of the National Council for Children's Rights and Protection, which discussed the events of recent weeks and a joint plan with civil society and international partners.
The age limit
“A debate must be opened on how and when we should restrict minors' access to social media. Up to which age limit, 16 or 18,” Rama said, calling it a trend being followed in several democratic countries. He also announced that from next school year children will stay at school until 5 p.m., with a dedicated budget, so that parents can keep working and children have more activities, from sports to art, film and photography.
Minors and violence
On minors involved in acts of violence, Rama said they should first be seen as “children who need help.” He said that, following the model of France and Italy, the government has included administrative and financial penalties for families over damage caused by their children, but added that punishment is not enough. He cited turning the baby bonus into monthly support and raising the scholarship for students from families in need.
“Violence has been glorified”
The prime minister said that in recent weeks violence “has been relativized, justified and glorified” and has led to the stigmatization of the State Police. According to him, it risks becoming a tool against a teacher, a lecturer, a university or a business owner. Rama said he has received dozens of messages from students who ask to remain anonymous out of fear of intimidation.
