Oct 9, 2024 –As technology advances and access to the internet broadens, Albania is experiencing a concerning rise in online sexual harassment, echoing a global trend that has swept across digital platforms. Reports of online abuse, especially among adolescents, have surged dramatically in the first half of 2024, surpassing last year’s total, according to the Isigurt.al platform.
Borjana Dine, an analyst at the platform, said that from January to June 2024, there were 245 reported cases of online harassment, already exceeding the 244 cases logged throughout the entire year of 2023. “We are seeing a worrying increase in the number of complaints. By the end of December, we expect this number to be much higher than last year, signalling a rising trend in Albania,” Dine explained.
The complaints are varied but share a disturbing focus. “Hate speech, bullying, and online sexual violence make up the highest proportion of all reports,” she said. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram were named as the primary spaces where harassment occurred, with inappropriate photos and videos circulating widely. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to these harmful behaviours, yet the impact is not limited to young people.
Of growing concern is the role of artificial intelligence in amplifying the issue. Dine noted that AI-generated content is being used to create harmful and often pornographic material, even when the victim has no direct involvement in its production. “Artificial intelligence is playing a dangerous role in this, allowing the creation of inappropriate content involving individuals who may not have consented or even been aware of it. This demands increased vigilance.”
Though Albania has not yet seen the scale of cases that might raise alarm bells in other countries, experts warn that the trend is unmistakable. Specific cases of sexual violence linked to online platforms are affecting people up to the age of 25, and while the numbers remain relatively low, the phenomenon is no less real.
“There have been few such cases in Albania so far, but they do exist,” Dine stressed, noting that the psychological and emotional damage caused by these incidents can be profound. She called for greater awareness and a collective response from society to address the dangers posed by digital spaces.
With social media becoming an integral part of everyday life, particularly among the young, there are growing fears that these platforms are becoming fertile ground for abusive behaviour. As the cases rise, the urgency to create safer digital environments in Albania—and beyond—becomes ever more pressing.
For now, experts are urging parents, educators, and policymakers to be vigilant, emphasising that more comprehensive measures are needed to curb the troubling rise of online sexual harassment before it escalates further.
