Maldives to ban social media for children under 16 within a year
Synopsis
The Maldives is set to ban social media access for children under 16, with President Muizzu citing cyberbullying and online grooming as key threats. The government will model its approach on Australia's world-first law — which deactivated 4.7 million child accounts on day one — while navigating the compliance failures that have already put five platforms under investigation in Canberra.
Key Takeaways
President Mohamed Muizzu announced on 2 June that the Maldives will ban social media access for children under 16 .
The ban targets specific platforms deemed risky; it will not affect children's access to educational content online.
The government plans to consult technology companies and amend existing cyber safety laws before implementation.
A regulatory framework is expected to be finalised within a year , following public consultations.
Australia — the model for this policy — saw 4.7 million child accounts deactivated after its ban took effect on 10 December 2024 .
Australia is currently investigating five platforms , including Facebook and Instagram , for non-compliance; fines can reach 49.5 million Australian dollars .
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the government will ban children under 16 from accessing certain social media platforms, citing rising concerns over cyberbullying, online grooming, and other digital threats. The announcement was made at a weekly press conference in Male on 2 June, according to state broadcaster PSM News.
What the Proposed Ban Covers
The restrictions would target specific applications deemed risky for minors, Muizzu said. The government plans to consult relevant technology companies and work with platform owners to align their services with Maldivian law. Implementing the measure will require amendments to existing cyber safety legislation, the president noted.
Muizzu was explicit that the ban would not interfere with children's education or online learning — the goal, he said, is to build a safer digital environment without cutting off access to educational resources.
Timeline and Process
The government aims to finalise the regulatory framework and introduce the ban within a year, following public consultations. Officials indicated they would study regulations in other countries, including Australia, as they shape the new policy.
The Australia Precedent
If enacted, the Maldives would follow Australia in prohibiting social media access for under-16s — a policy Canberra rolled out in December 2024. According to data released by Australia's eSafety Commissioner, social media companies deactivated approximately 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children under 16 in the days immediately after the ban took effect on 10 December.
Australia's federal government is currently investigating five social media platforms for failing to comply with the law. The eSafety Commissioner has stated it has 'significant concerns' about the compliance of major platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Under Australian law, companies that fail to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from accessing their platforms face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $33.9 million).
Why It Matters
The Maldives move reflects a broader global momentum toward age-gating social media, with governments increasingly treating child online safety as a legislative rather than a parental responsibility. This comes amid mounting evidence that prolonged social media exposure is linked to mental health risks in adolescents. Notably, the Maldivian announcement comes while Australia — the world's first mover on this policy — is still grappling with enforcement gaps, a cautionary signal for any country designing a similar framework.
The outcome of Maldives' public consultation process and its engagement with technology companies will be closely watched as a test case for smaller nations seeking to replicate large-country digital regulation.
Point of View
With far greater regulatory capacity, is already struggling to get Facebook and Instagram to comply. The Maldives, with a fraction of those resources, will need a credible mechanism to compel platform cooperation, not just legislative intent. Copying Australia's law is the easy part; replicating its enforcement infrastructure is not.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maldives social media ban for children?
The Maldivian government has announced a plan to ban children under 16 from accessing certain social media platforms, citing risks such as cyberbullying and online grooming. President Muizzu said the regulatory framework will be finalised within a year after public consultations and amendments to existing cyber safety laws.
Which country is the Maldives modelling its social media ban on?
The Maldives is looking to Australia as a reference point. Australia became the first country in the world to enforce a social media ban for under-16s, which took effect on 10 December 2024 and resulted in approximately 4.7 million child accounts being deactivated.
When will the Maldives social media ban take effect?
The government aims to finalise the regulatory framework and introduce the ban within a year, subject to public consultations and legislative amendments. No specific implementation date has been announced yet.
Will the ban affect children's online education in the Maldives?
President Muizzu has explicitly stated that the restrictions will not hinder children's education or their ability to learn online. The ban is intended to target specific social media applications deemed risky, not educational platforms.
What penalties do social media companies face under Australia's similar law?
Under Australia's law — which the Maldives is studying — platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from accessing their services face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $33.9 million). Five platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, are currently under investigation for non-compliance.
