North Macedonia's Liberal Democratic Party has launched a TikTok ban initiative, urging the government to regulate harmful content on social networks following a series of injuries linked to the TikTok "Superman" challenge.

In a growing push to address the dangers posed by unchecked social media content, North Macedonia’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has called for a nationwide ban on TikTok. The initiative comes in the wake of alarming reports involving children participating in the "Superman" challenge on the platform, leading to several injuries. As the country grapples with the consequences of dangerous online trends, the LDP emphasizes the urgent need for stricter regulation of content that incites violence or encourages self-destructive behavior.

The Growing Concern: Children Injured in TikTok Challenge


Recent reports have highlighted a disturbing trend in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, where at least eleven children have been injured while attempting the viral "Superman" challenge on TikTok. The youngest of these children is just 10 years old, sparking widespread outrage. The injuries, sustained within a span of just six days, have raised alarms among both parents and authorities.

In the past 24 hours alone, six additional children from Skopje and other Macedonian cities have been reported to have been injured, highlighting the rapidly escalating danger posed by the challenge. These incidents are part of a larger pattern of harmful social media content that is spreading unchecked across the country, especially affecting minors who are the most vulnerable to such online trends.

The Liberal Democratic Party’s Call for Action


The LDP has strongly condemned the “irresponsible and uncontrolled spread” of content on social media platforms like TikTok, which they claim is a direct threat to the safety and well-being of young people. In a statement, the party described the injured children as victims of dangerous online games that are disguised as harmless fun.

"The youngest of those injured is only 10 years old, while the oldest is 17. These data are not only disturbing but also alarming," said a party representative. "Children, our most vulnerable category, become victims of dangerous games that are traded through social networks."

The LDP believes that these incidents underscore the lack of effective control over the content available on social media, which they argue allows such harmful trends to spread with little oversight.

The Need for Stricter Regulation


In response to these recent incidents, the Liberal Democratic Party is urging the Ministry of Education and Science to take immediate action. This is not the first time the party has called for greater regulation of social media content. Following similar events in neighboring Serbia, the LDP submitted a proposal last year requesting increased control over online content, particularly material that promotes violence or harmful behaviors.

The party’s initiative emphasizes the need for several key measures to protect minors from the dangers of social media. These include:


  • Banning content that encourages violence and self-destructive behavior

  • Increasing surveillance of social media platforms

  • Imposing sanctions on platforms that allow dangerous content to be accessible to minors

The LDP’s call to action highlights a growing recognition that both political parties and social institutions must take collective responsibility to safeguard the mental and physical health of children in North Macedonia.

 A Collective Responsibility


The recent surge in injuries tied to the TikTok "Superman" challenge in North Macedonia has prompted urgent calls for government intervention. With the Liberal Democratic Party at the forefront of this initiative, there is a growing push for stronger regulation of content on social media platforms. While the debate over internet censorship and free speech continues globally, the LDP’s stance underscores a critical point: when the safety of children is at risk, it is the responsibility of society—political leaders, parents, and institutions alike—to take immediate action.

As North Macedonia grapples with this issue, the question remains: how far will the government go to balance online freedom with the need to protect its youngest citizens from harmful influences?