Opposition’s new cause: Battling the TikTok ban

The Albanian opposition's "civil disobedience" movement has finally found a cause to rally behind: the TikTok ban. Until now, their efforts to garner support through protests and roadblocks have largely failed. The public, and even the police, showed little interest, with most simply waiting for the demonstrations to end in frustration.

Now, however, the opposition has a chance to regain popularity. Their first symbolic act of defiance came from Gazment Bardhi, leader of the Democratic Party's parliamentary group, who opened a TikTok account on the same day Prime Minister Edi Rama announced plans to ban the platform in 2025. This bold gesture is one the opposition hopes will resonate and inspire others to follow suit. They argue the ban is a deliberate move by Rama to undermine their campaign ahead of the 2025 elections, further fueling their resolve.

Ironically, while TikTok is being targeted, other platforms remain untouched. Facebook, with its 2 million Albanian users—1.5 million of whom follow opposition leader Sali Berisha—remains accessible. Instagram, where Berisha’s daughter-in-law is a prominent influencer, is also unaffected, as are Twitter, Snapchat, and others. According to the opposition, Rama's decision to single out TikTok reflects his fear of its potential influence, making it the centerpiece of their resistance.

Rama has stated that the ban will last at least a year, meaning it could be lifted by the end of 2025. During this time, analyses and debates about the ban’s impact are expected, potentially leading to its reversal—thereby undermining the opposition's year-long campaign against it.

For now, however, the opposition sees the TikTok ban as their rallying cry. They estimate that Albania’s 700,000 TikTok users will naturally align with their cause, creating a potential bloc of supporters. In their view, this could jeopardize Rama’s ambition to secure 800,000 votes in the next election.

The coming months will reveal how this strategy plays out. Rama claims that 90% of Albanians support the TikTok ban, while the opposition insists they have the backing of TikTok's users. This clash of "virtual armies" will inevitably shape the political landscape leading up to the May 2025 elections.

In this battle, Rama has positioned himself as an ally of concerned parents, framing his decision as part of a broader societal debate. The TikTok ban itself may not be the focal point of his campaign, but the controversy surrounding it certainly is. By creating this distraction, Rama has baited the opposition into an unwinnable fight.

Should Rama win the elections, he will likely tout the TikTok ban as a personal victory. Even if the ban is eventually overturned, he will have succeeded in steering the opposition into a futile battle. Few oppositions worldwide would fall so easily into such a trap—except those whose primary aim is not reform but preserving their leader’s relevance.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "Mosbindja civile për TikTok-un"