Skopje, 12 December 2024 (MIA) - Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski said Thursday the Government doesn’t intend to limit the use of TikTok in the country after a viral challenge on the social media app left several children needing medical attention.

“The level of security and protection is lower there [on TikTok] compared to other networks, which is why videos can be shared that call for violence, hate, bullying... We are carefully monitoring the situation, and we will follow the actions of EU member states,” Andonovski said.

According to the Minister, the focus shouldn’t be placed on banning apps, but instead on educating children and parents. He announced the establishment of a center for safer internet for children, with the assistance of the nongovernmental sector and universities Ss. Cyril and Methodius, and Goce Delchev.

“We will create a platform which will allow such issues or cases to be reported, and which will provide resources to those who believe they are a victim of assault or bullying online in order to deal with the situation,” Andonovski said, adding that they would work with school psychologists and parents to provide parents with the resources to protect their children online.

The Minister said it would be “dangerous” to launch a process of banning apps.

“It would be dangerous to embark on a process of banning apps. As a country that considers itself a European, liberal country that believes in the progressive values of the EU, it would be harmful to move towards a complete ban on apps,” the Minister stressed.

He noted that social media only serves as a platform for sharing information, stressing that the information shared ultimately originates from the children and more attention should be paid to their education and upbringing.

“I don’t want to be misunderstood, but I have a feeling that we have a lack of proper upbringing of the young generation, which is why these things are happening. Social media is only a platform for sharing information, but the information in the end still originates from young people, children and the lack of proper upbringing by their parents. Such challenges have existed in the past too, when people ended up injured, but they were shared in other ways, not on social media. What the countries did in such cases was work with parents and schools. I think this should be our focus,” Andonovski stressed.

Several children were admitted to the Skopje City Hospital in early December after sustaining injuries, including bruises and broken arms, while doing a TikTok challenge.

The challenge, dubbed “Superman”, involves the participant being thrown in the air by others with arms extended in a Superman-like pose before landing, which is when injuries can occur.

Photo: MIA Archive