Police seize 22 school confession pages amid surge in student cyberbullying

Maldives Police have seized 22 Instagram confession pages linked to schools, following a spike in cyberbullying incidents targeting students and teachers.

The Maldives Police Service said these pages, mostly connected to schools in Malé, were publishing vulgar, offensive, and psychologically damaging content. Many of the posts involved harassment, false accusations, and ridicule directed at individuals within the school community.

The Cyber Crime Center, working alongside the Family and Child Protection Department, is also investigating 20 additional confession pages and has launched targeted operations to address the growing trend of online abuse among students.

"This issue is escalating, and many students have already suffered harm," police said, noting that such pages are often anonymously operated by students themselves.

Authorities have issued public warnings through some of the confiscated pages, stating that those found responsible will face legal consequences under Maldivian law.

Police also called on the public to report any incidents involving student victims of cyberbullying to the Cyber Crime Center, emphasizing the need to protect the mental health and safety of school communities.