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The culture secretary has indicated that popular online marketplaces, including Vinted and eBay, might be added to the list of platforms banned for users under 16. Lisa Nandy mentioned that the government is seriously considering extending the social media ban to these retail websites to enhance the safety of children. This move aligns with the existing restriction scheduled to be enforced from March next year, which already bars under-16s from accessing sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Following this announcement, eBay responded by expressing its willingness to engage constructively with the government to better understand the proposed measures. Meanwhile, Vinted welcomed the opportunity for open dialogue with ministers and the regulatory body. During an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Nandy confirmed that the government is evaluating the inclusion of these platforms as part of its efforts to protect young users. The Sunday Times previously reported that concerns about messaging features on these sites potentially enabling grooming were motivating the expansion of the ban, suggesting that other platforms such as Depop and Facebook Marketplace may also be impacted.
Both eBay and Vinted emphasize age restrictions within their platforms: eBay requires all members to be over 18 due to contractual obligations when listing items, while Vinted, though primarily for adults, allows parents or guardians to create supervised accounts for children. Vinted has achieved significant growth, boasting 17 million users in the UK, mostly facilitating the buying and selling of second-hand fashion. A spokesperson for Vinted highlighted that direct messaging is integral to the platform but insisted on a zero-tolerance policy for harmful or explicit content, with moderation teams actively monitoring and removing rule-breaking activities. Similarly, eBay stated its commitment to maintaining a safe and trusted marketplace experience, noting that they are awaiting further details of the legislation while intending to collaborate with the government.
The government’s initial announcement in June outlined plans to prohibit children under 16 from accessing ten major social media platforms, including YouTube, though YouTube Kids will remain available. The full list of restricted platforms has yet to be finalized but will target those designed primarily for social interaction and user-generated content. The restrictions are set to cover platforms with features such as livestreaming and those allowing stranger contact, which will affect certain gaming sites as well. For example, while Roblox, popular among 8- to 12-year-olds, will not be entirely banned, some of its chat functions will be limited. Matthew Sinclair, senior director at the Computer and Communications Industry Association, cautioned against overextending the ban, warning that a messaging restriction might inadvertently impact essential communication services used by families. He called for any new rules to be both proportionate and effective.
This UK initiative follows a similar social media ban enacted in Australia last year, where children have found ways to circumvent restrictions. The UK government, however, plans to adopt a stricter enforcement approach. Recently, Ofcom, the communications regulator, outlined recommendations on verifying the ages of millions of UK social media users to implement the ban effectively. Rani Govender, head of online child safety at the NSPCC, emphasized that while effective age verification is crucial, it is only part of the solution. She stressed that technology companies must embed child safety features throughout their platforms and AI tools to protect young users from harmful and illegal content, ensuring they can only access age-appropriate services
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