02.06.2026 14:41
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu announced that they will implement a regulation within a year aimed at limiting social media access for children under 16. The justification cited includes the abuse, bullying, and inappropriate content children are exposed to.
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu announced that they plan to implement regulations aimed at restricting social media access for those under 16 within one year.
According to a written statement from the Maldives President's Office, Muizzu spoke during a press conference about steps to be taken to ensure children's safety. Stating that they plan to restrict access to certain social media platforms for children under 16 in the country, Muizzu said the regulation will be fully implemented within one year at the latest.
Muizzu cited the abuse, bullying, and inappropriate content that children in the country are exposed to on social media as the reason for this government decision.
"SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTION IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE CHILDREN'S SAFETY"
Emphasizing that social media restriction is essential to ensure children's safety, Muizzu stated that this does not mean they are backtracking on the country's digitalization efforts.
Australia became the first country in the world to implement legislation blocking social media access for those under 16 in December 2025, while Indonesia also took a similar step in March, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to initiate such a practice.
In Malaysia, a regulation aimed at preventing those under 16 from opening social media accounts also came into effect yesterday.
European countries such as Poland, Denmark, France, Spain, Greece, and the UK are also preparing to take similar steps.