Rama announces new measures for children: Discussion on restricting social media and family responsibility

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the government is preparing a package of measures to protect and educate minors amid concerns over the rise in incidents of violence among young people.

During a meeting of the National Council for the Rights and Protection of Children, the head of government stressed the need for a common approach involving civil society and international partners, focusing on the lessons learned in recent weeks. The discussion also addressed family responsibility, social support and minors’ use of social media.

Rama announced that a consultation with parents, teachers and schools will soon be held to determine age limits on social media platforms. He also floated the idea of imposing financial penalties on families when their children cause damage, while calling for stronger assistance for families in need and expanded opportunities for sports and cultural activities.

“Before determining who has used or misused young people, we must understand how their families can be supported to help their children return to living alongside others. We are analyzing the measures taken by other countries, such as France and Italy, which have also faced violence and from which we have drawn examples.

“We must also provide for financial penalties for families in cases where their children cause damage. If, in the case of an adult, the punishment and isolation prescribed by law fulfill the state’s obligation, in the case of a minor this process marks only the beginning of the mission. We must also determine how we can expand assistance for families in difficulty. At present, we provide support for unemployed mothers who are raising children and are heads of household.

The baby bonus has been included in a monthly support scheme, but this is not enough. We have also decided to significantly increase financial assistance for students from families in need, which will reach half the minimum wage. However, even this is not enough for us to claim that we have fulfilled our duty,” the prime minister said.

According to Rama, the situation that has developed over the years in Europe and Albania, due to both similar and different factors, requires a new approach to every element that contributes to physical socialization. He said social media has encouraged a form of loneliness that poses a risk to coexistence, while psychologists have also linked this trend to the possibility of becoming immersed in a PlayStation.

“For this reason, we have decided to intervene on the age limit for the use of social media. We will open a discussion with parents, teachers and schools on how to restrict minors’ access to these platforms. Another task is to expand children’s participation in sports and cultural activities,” Rama said.