UK Considers Banning Under-16s from Vinted and eBay

The UK government is contemplating extending its upcoming social media ban for under-16s to include online marketplaces such as Vinted and eBay, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has revealed. The move is part of efforts to safeguard children from potential online harms.

Government 'Looking Seriously' at Including Resale Platforms

In an interview with the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Nandy confirmed that the government is "looking seriously" at adding these platforms to the list of banned sites. "We are looking seriously at doing so in order to keep children safe," she stated. This follows a report in The Sunday Times suggesting that the ban, set to take effect in March next year, could be expanded to cover sites like Vinted, eBay, Depop, and Facebook Marketplace due to concerns over messaging features that could be exploited by strangers to groom children.

The initial announcement in June outlined plans to bar under-16s from major social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, with YouTube also included, though YouTube Kids will remain accessible. The government has not yet released a complete list of affected platforms but indicated that it would cover those "whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material." This means platforms with livestreaming or features that enable strangers to contact children, including gaming sites, will face restrictions. However, the ban does not mean that gaming platforms like Roblox will be entirely off-limits for under-16s; certain features such as chat functions will be limited.

Platforms Already Require Users to Be 18

Both eBay and Vinted currently require users to be at least 18 years old. eBay states on its website that members must be over 18 because listings involve "entering into a contract." Vinted, which has grown rapidly to reach 17 million UK users, also mandates that users be 18 or older. The BBC has reached out to both companies for comment.

The UK's move follows a similar ban introduced in Australia last year, though many children there have found ways to circumvent it. The UK government has indicated it intends to take a tougher approach. In recent weeks, attention has turned to enforcement, with communications regulator Ofcom publishing recommendations on identifying users over 16. As the March deadline approaches, the inclusion of resale platforms in the ban remains under active consideration, underscoring the government's commitment to child safety online.