President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has met with a high-level delegation from TikTok to explore potential partnerships aimed at advancing digitalisation and creating new income avenues for Maldivians through the popular social media platform.
During the meeting, held at the President’s Office, President Muizzu outlined his vision for a more digitally empowered Maldives and emphasized his administration’s commitment to nurturing a creative economy. In response, TikTok’s representatives shared ideas on how the platform could support the President’s digital goals, highlighting the platform’s global ecosystem for content creators.
Both sides expressed optimism over future collaborations, with discussions focusing on practical steps to enable content monetisation for Maldivian users—an area that has so far remained limited in the country.
While TikTok is widely used across the Maldives, creators currently have very few avenues to generate income through the app. The primary means of monetisation available is through live-streaming, where viewers can send virtual gifts that are later converted into real earnings. Unlike users in many other countries, Maldivians are not yet eligible for programs such as the TikTok Creator Rewards Program, TikTok Shop, or affiliate marketing through the platform.
The Economic Ministry, which also met with the delegation, reaffirmed that work is underway to bridge this gap. “We are working on possible collaboration with this popular global social media network to unlock new avenues for digital monetisation,” the Ministry posted on X. “Building a thriving creative economy is a key pledge of President Dr Muizzu in his manifesto.”
The arrival of TikTok’s senior leadership in the Maldives marks a significant step forward in the government’s broader ambition to integrate the nation into the global digital economy. As talks progress, both parties have signaled a willingness to establish long-term mechanisms that could allow Maldivian creators to fully benefit from the platform’s monetisation tools.
