President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced that the Maldives will ban social media access for children under 16, citing mental health harms. The decision follows similar restrictions in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Brazil and Greece, backed by mental health professionals and parents' concerns.
Latest Maldives to ban certain social media Apps for children under the age of 16 Byline, 1 Jun, 19:56
During a press briefing held at the President's Office today, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the Government's decision to restrict access to certain social media platforms for children under the age of 16, with full implementation to follow within a maximum period of one year.
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Social media use adversely impacts the brain, affecting our empathy and relationships and leading to a decline in mental health. No study shows that excessive social media use is beneficial to children’s brains.
We are witnessing firsthand in our clinics the ability of social media to drive down children’s self-esteem and fuel ideas of self-harm. We have reached a critical conclusion: social media use for children under 16 must be banned.
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Newest report: Byline, 1 Jun, 19:56. Reports with a date and no time are listed but not placed on the line.
0 agreed0 written differently11 from one source
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Australia – First nationwide ban, Dec 2025. Platforms fined up to A$49.5M for non-compliance.
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In the past 18 months, country after country has concluded that children need to be shielded from the algorithm.
Word for word from Maldives News Network. Open the report
Greece – Full ban for under-15s announced for January 2027, citing anxiety and sleep problems.
Word for word from Maldives News Network. Open the report
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the Government's decision to restrict access to certain social media platforms for children under the age of 16, with full implementation to follow within a maximum period of one year.
Word for word from Byline. Open the report
Australia – First nationwide ban, Dec 2025. Platforms fined up to A$49.5M for non-compliance.
Word for word from Maldives News Network. Open the report
Indonesia – Banned under-16s from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and more from March 2026.
Word for word from Maldives News Network. Open the report
and 5 more, in the Evidence tab and the reports.
Australia – First nationwide ban, Dec 2025. Platforms fined up to A$49.5M for non-compliance.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
In the past 18 months, country after country has concluded that children need to be shielded from the algorithm.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
Greece – Full ban for under-15s announced for January 2027, citing anxiety and sleep problems.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the Government's decision to restrict access to certain social media platforms for children under the age of 16, with full implementation to follow within a maximum period of one year.
Word for word from the report in Byline. Open the report
Australia – First nationwide ban, Dec 2025. Platforms fined up to A$49.5M for non-compliance.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
Indonesia – Banned under-16s from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and more from March 2026.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
Malaysia – Full ban on social media for under-16s announced for 2026.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
France – President Macron backed ban, calling it a scientific recommendation.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
Brazil – Requires parental linking for under-16 accounts and bans addictive features like infinite scroll.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
Greece – Full ban for under-15s announced for January 2027, citing anxiety and sleep problems.
Word for word from the report in Maldives News Network. Open the report
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