The head of the Computer Crime Investigation Sector, Suela Bonjaku, sounded the alarm a week ago about an increase in the forms and intensity of cybercrimes against minors in Albania.
“The spectrum of forms of cyber abuse ranges from bullying to the most serious forms of abuse,” said Bonjaku during her speech at a meeting of the working group for Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom, Security – organized within the framework of the National Convention for European Integration. “Blackmail through intimate materials is one of the most violent forms of cybercrime,” she added.
According to mental health experts, the increase in cybercrimes against minors exposes them to negative experiences, which have profound and long-term effects on the lives of victims and require coordinated response and support from family and society.
The growing trend of cybercrimes against minors is also confirmed by civil society monitoring platforms.
The National Child Advice Hotline in Albania (ALO 116 111), over the last five years, has handled over 500 reports directly related to children's online safety, while in 2025 alone, 127 different cases of online violence were recorded.
According to Klaudio Pulaha, a social worker at this advice line, these figures show not only an increase in reporting, but also a worsening of the impact that the digital environment is having on children.
"Reports coming from children and adolescents regarding digital abuse are deeply concerning and constitute a strong alarm signal for their psycho-emotional well-being," Pulaha told BIRN.
He highlighted that in the last three years alone, five teenagers in Albania have lost their lives as a result of conflicts generated by interactions on social networks.
With the increase in cybercrime cases, the new draft of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania has also included several new categories of criminal offenses to fill the legal gaps, which until now did not include a range of online abuses.
"Massive internet use, often without proper parental control, exposes children to a vast virtual world," says Borjana Dine, psychologist at the Center for Children's Rights in Albania (CRCA).
"This increases the risk of manipulation, blackmail, threats, misuse of their image, generation of images of children through AI for negative purposes, and even manipulation or threats to publish materials containing sexual violence," she added.
According to Dine, the increase in the number of cybercrimes is an indication of the fact that children are increasingly facing risks that affect their safety and well-being.
"In the psychological context, children who experience bullying, blackmail or online exploitation often experience forms of anxiety, depression, persistent fear and loss of self-confidence," she explained.
Similarly, Claudio Pulaha emphasized that the traumas resulting from such abuse and the psychological consequences can accompany victims for years and affect the way they build relationships, how they function in school, and how they see themselves.
"In terms of mental health, children who experience bullying, blackmail or digital violence are more at risk of developing chronic anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, feelings of shame and guilt, as well as self-harming or suicidal thoughts," he said.
Pulaha added that there is also an increasing trend in self-harming thoughts that children display, as a result of the trauma they experience from abuse against them.
"Data on self-harming thoughts show an alarming increase from year to year: from 2 cases in 2021, to 8 cases in 2022, 11 cases in 2023, 27 cases in 2024 and up to 91 cases in 2025 alone," Pulaha added.
Mental health experts emphasize that coordination of various actors is needed to minimize the profound consequences of online abuse on children.
"A genuine coordination is needed, which starts first with the parental role, schools and state and non-profit institutions," said Borjana Dine.
Similarly, Klaudio Pulaha emphasized that an integrated approach is needed to minimize the consequences of online abuse and bullying against children, which combines prevention, early intervention, and long-term support.
According to specialists, open communication with children, building trust, and establishing rules for internet use and parental control can prevent dangerous situations online.
"Schools play a key role through clear response protocols, functional psychological services and the creation of a supportive climate, which prevents isolation, social exclusion and the deterioration of the psycho-emotional state of children," concluded Pulaha./Reporter.al
