Authors: Lazarino Pjetri and Sali Doçi
While fame on social media can be as temporary as it is dangerous, the exploitation of children for online popularity reveals a darker side. Children are used for financial gain, become victims of online bullying, and are exposed to predators. Albania still lacks adequate legal protections and instruments to prevent the phenomenon.
Famous children
Noel Hoxha, a student with excellent grades, from Shkodra, started engaging in social networks at the age of 11. With the support of his family, he has further developed his dream of becoming famous, making videos as an impersonator of journalists and well-known television actors.
"Initially, I started by imitating journalists and well-known television actors", says Noeli.
Today, he is not only an active influencer on social media, but also a co-host of a children's show on a local television station in Shkodër. Noeli also deals with marketing of various products and stores.
Although fame is not easy to gain and maintain, Noeli says it also has its beautiful sides, such as recognition from people on the street and photo requests.
What about the dark side?
"Negative comments, especially from fake accounts or from parents of other kids my age."
But despite this, Noel says that he always maintains a positive attitude, not devoting too much time and attention to himself.
To manage these situations, Noeli says he doesn't read negative comments. His mother manages his social networks and is the one who deletes or responds to comments when "the situation gets out of control".
The most extreme case, which turned into "stalking", was a profile of a lady, who was a mother herself, who often insulted or bullied him about his talent and abilities, in every video or post.
Meanwhile, Noel's plans are bigger: "My plan is to reach higher than that and one day be part of big, national televisions."
"Fame", which "kills" children
Not every story with children on social networks is a "field of flowers".
Police in Saranda, on February 21, arrested Natasha Rombula, 67, and her son, Armando Kumaraku, 44, after they both posted a video on TikTok , which featured a minor, 10-year-old boy, using derogatory and vulgar words.
The minor, the son of Armando Kumarak, was used by his father and grandmother for monetary benefits.
They were reported to the police by the minor's mother.
This is not an isolated case; dozens of cases have been identified by security structures. The use of children as influencers or even their misuse on social networks is a phenomenon not unheard of in Albania. Minors are vulnerable to cyberbullying and online blackmail . Albania has no legal framework for their protection on social platforms.
According to Altin Hazizaj, head of the non-governmental organization Center for the Protection of Children's Rights in Albania (CRCA), children's safety online is a growing concern.
According to official data from isigurt.al , the two main problems are the risk from online sexual predators and pedophiles , as well as bullying.
According to Hazizaj, parents are not aware of the image of children online , nor are the relevant authorities.
"From January 2024 to June, over 300 cases have been reported, most of which are teenagers, where only Albania and France at the global level are more at risk," says the head of the CRCA.
Poor communication between parents and children makes the child afraid to share his concerns.
"For their safety, the first step is to control how long the child spends on the internet ; the child should be taught that if someone asks for personal information, they should not give it out," Hazizaj emphasizes.
A study conducted by UNICEF and IPSOS in Albania in 2019, which examined the experiences of 1,000 children aged 9-17 and their parents, highlights that minors spend an average of 2.9 hours online each day during the week and 3.3 hours on weekends.
Of the 1,000 children surveyed, only 14% reported having had bad experiences online . One in 10 children said they had faced online bullying.
Young people in their responses to UNICEF indicated that they do not discuss with their parents the concerns they have when using social networks.
According to the data of this study, 6.4% of children reported that they had been mistreated, bullied or repeatedly made fun of by someone during the last twelve months (8%, boys; 5%, girls). However, of those who reported being bullied, children were more likely to be bullied physically (61.7%) than through a digital device (47.9%). However, in a previous study, it appears that 19.4% of children in the age group of 10-18 years were the subject of bullying in 2017, which indicates differences in the way the question was understood by the children.
According to UNICEF, cyberbullying is a form of harassment via the Internet . It can occur on social networks, in online games and with various communication programs on smartphones . These actions are done and repeated with the aim of scaring, angering or embarrassing the “victims”. Some cases include spreading lies or false facts about an individual with the aim of intimidating them, posting photos and videos taken from the “victim’s” profile with the aim of blackmailing them and sending messages, images or videos with fake profiles, pretending to be a certain individual.
To prevent cyberbullying, UNICEF suggests that parents monitor their children's online activity , teach children how to identify and respond to specific instances, and limit the time they spend on smart devices.
Unintentional harm to the child
Another concern raised by pediatrician Lira Gjika is the parent-child relationship, which is complex and often problematic in our society. The problem is that many parents see children as their property, not respecting them as individuals with unique rights and needs. This approach can lead to abuse, especially in cases of children becoming influencers on social media, she says. Excessive exposure to technology from a young age is causing mental health problems in children.
Doctor Lira Gjika emphasizes the importance of education and creativity in children.
"Man paints emotions, fantasy is unique to each person and parents should work with the child's fantasy and encourage it," she says.
To improve the situation, Gjika suggests reforms in education and a greater awareness of parents about the rights and needs of their children, since children's mental health should be a priority from an early age, when the brain begins to form and develops.
"Bullying children is not only cursing them, but also praising them. This form of bullying, known as "positive bullying", can be just as harmful as the traditional form of bullying. Parents are often not able to properly take care of their children, exposing them to phones from a very young age, in order to keep them calm," says pediatrician Lira Gjika.
Anisa Metalla, an expert on child protection, says that fake images are also very disturbing.
She adds that this risk may increase in the future as a result of technological developments and artificial intelligence.
Another initiative was undertaken by UNDP and UNFPA in Albania, who organized and conducted from May 2023 to April 2024 an awareness campaign on social networks against the use of hate speech, with the slogan: Words kill! Think/Weigh them carefully.
The campaign focused primarily on young people aged 18-29, using platforms such as Facebook and Instagram . The aim was to address the use of hate speech against different groups of young people, who experience discrimination for various reasons, including ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and beyond.
The campaign is part of a regional UN initiative called "Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Confidence", funded by the United Nations Peace Fund. The goal is to build an inclusive future, without fake news, with gender equality and without mistrust. The project started in 2022 and is expected to continue until the end of 2026, promoting positive narratives and stories of cooperation among young people in the region.
Crimes online towards minors, Police: There is no specific law
The only article of the Criminal Code that protects children from the publication of inappropriate content on the internet is Article 117:
"Producing, distributing, advertising, importing, selling and publishing pornographic materials in environments where there are children, constitutes a criminal offense and is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years; producing, importing, providing, distributing, using or possessing child pornography is punishable by imprisonment from three to ten years; while recruiting, coercing or using a child to participate in pornographic performances is punishable by imprisonment from five to ten years".
According to the General Directorate of the State Police, blackmail and bullying do not exist as criminal offenses in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania, but, according to the Cyber Crimes Department of the State Police, a dedicated structure has been created since June 2023 for the investigation of cybercrimes, including child pornography.
This structure, according to information provided by the State Police office, monitors social networks and cooperates with platforms to delete bullying or pornographic content.
While the information of the General Prosecutor's Office shows that they do not have statistical registers, divided by categories: blackmail, bullying or threats, but only cases related to the criminal offense "Pornography" of minors, which results in the neglect of other, specific cases .
| Pornografia | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |||||||||
| No. Proc. reg. | No. proc. in court | No. pand. curry | No. etc. in court. | No. Proc. curry | No. proc. in court | No. pand. curry | No. etc. in court. | No. Proc. curry | No. proc. in court | No. pand. curry | No. etc. in court. | |
| 117/1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 117/2 | 52 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 117/3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 67 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 51 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Statistics for the last 3 years regarding the criminal offense "Pornography" of minors
The number of criminal proceedings for the offense "Pornography" against minors (see table) has fluctuated during the years 2021-2023 in Albania.
In 2021, 67 proceedings were registered, of which only 3 were sent to court with 5 defendants. A year later, the number of proceedings decreased to 34, with only 2 proceedings sent to court and with only 1 defendant. Meanwhile, in 2023 the number of proceedings increased again to 51, with 2 proceedings sent to court and 1 defendant.
Figures show that the problem of online pornography against minors continues to be present, although with fluctuations in the number of proceedings and defendants sent to court during this period.
Technological advancement has brought with it new dangers for children online.
“It is important that parents and society are aware of these risks and create safe and supportive environments for children,” says Sabina Çarçani, Program Manager for Child Protection and Children's Rights Governance at Save the Children , Albania.
Çarçani emphasizes education and informing children, adolescents, and parents to prevent dangerous situations and protect their privacy online.
"Parents should be careful and reflect on their online behavior , especially when it affects their child. For example, the tendency to "share" everything, that is, the transmission of private details (images, videos, information) about a child through digital channels by an adult, parent or relative of the child, should be reviewed."
Sabina Çarçani expresses concern about the increase in cases of online blackmail against children. She mentions that, "children and adolescents are in a period of growth, development, which includes sexual development. This entire process brings about important changes in the child/adolescent in physiological, biological, emotional and mental aspects."
"It is time for a broader and more responsible response from society and the structures involved to protect children and adolescents from the dangers in the online environment ," says Çarçani.
In a world where technology is rapidly advancing, the safety and well-being of children online must be a priority for society and for authorities. While parents and institutions play a key role in protecting them, the creation of a stronger legal framework and greater awareness of the dangers of cyberbullying and blackmail are essential.
This article is part of the Investigative Journalism Laboratory project, which is financially supported by the Public Relations Office of the US Embassy in Tirana. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of State.
