Maldives (Commonwealth Union)_ The Maldives is preparing to introduce new rules that would prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing certain social media platforms, as authorities seek to strengthen online safety for young users. Accordingly, President Mohamed Muizzu announced the proposal, citing growing concerns about cyberbullying, online grooming, and other digital threats facing children. The move follows increasing calls from parents and educators for stronger protections in the online space. According to the government, the planned restrictions will target social media applications considered harmful or risky for minors.
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Officials are expected to work closely with technology companies and platform operators to ensure that regulations are followed in the Maldives, which will require amendments to existing cyber safety laws, while not affecting children’s access to educational resources online. The government plans to hold public consultations before finalising the regulatory framework, with implementation expected within the next year. Additionally, the Maldives is not alone in considering stricter controls on children’s social media use. Around the world, many governments are introducing measures aimed at protecting young people from harmful online content and interactions.
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Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16 in December last year. The policy had an immediate impact, with millions of underage accounts reportedly removed within days of enforcement. Australian authorities are also investigating several major social media platforms for possible violations of the law, with companies facing substantial financial penalties if they fail to prevent access by minors. Malaysia has also taken action. Since June 1, social media platforms with more than eight million local users have been required to verify users’ ages through government-issued identification. Several other countries, including Indonesia and a number of European nations, are considering similar restrictions. Nations such as France, Germany, Spain, Norway, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, India, Brazil, Britain, China, Austria, Malaysia, Australia and the United States have all introduced various forms of age-based social media regulations.
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The regulations apply to services such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Companies that fail to comply risk significant fines. Supporters say the rules will help protect children from exploitation and harmful content. But there are worries about privacy and possible loopholes. As governments clamp down on rules for online safety, tech companies are also doing their part. Meta, for instance, has introduced safety features for teenage users on Instagram, Facebook and Messenger to reduce their risk of coming into contact with inappropriate content and unwelcome interactions. The trend is part of a wider worldwide push to tackle issues related to children’s mental health, online safety and overall digital wellbeing.
