UK considers extending under-16 social media ban to Vinted and eBay
Messaging features on second-hand marketplaces are under scrutiny, and the scope of the planned March ban remains unclear.
The UK government is considering extending its planned under-16 social media ban to second-hand marketplaces Vinted and eBay, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said on Sunday. The move follows reports that messaging features on these sites could let strangers contact and groom children, with Depop and Facebook Marketplace also reportedly under consideration. The ban is due to take effect in March next year and already covers platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, though YouTube Kids is excluded. A full list of affected platforms has not been published, and the scope of the measures remains unclear. eBay said it looked forward to working constructively with the government, while Vinted said it welcomed open dialogue with ministers and the regulator and pointed to its moderation tools and zero-tolerance policy on harmful content. Industry groups have warned against scope creep that could reach messaging services families rely on.
Why it matters
The proposal would widen a restriction already set to cover major social platforms to marketplaces where children may be contacted by strangers. Parents and young users would face a different set of limits than they expect today, and the exact list of affected services has not been published. Industry groups have warned that the scope could expand further to messaging services that families rely on, so the final boundaries of the rules are still open.
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