Politics · United Kingdom · 7 hrs ago
UK considers adding Vinted and eBay to under-16s social media ban
The UK government is considering adding Vinted and eBay to a ban on social media use by children under 16.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the move was being considered to help keep children safe.
The ban, which is due to start in March next year, is set to cover platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
The concern raised is that messaging features on resale sites could let strangers groom children.
Vinted and eBay already require users to be at least 18, according to their own rules.
No final decision on including the sites has been announced, so it remains unclear whether the ban will cover them.
The UK government is seriously considering including Vinted and eBay in its planned social media ban for under-16s, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said.
The ban is due to come into force in March 2027 and would bar under-16s from platforms including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
The Sunday Times reported that messaging functions on resale platforms raised concerns about strangers grooming children.
The report also suggested Depop and Facebook Marketplace could be included.
Vinted and eBay both say users must be at least 18.
- Who
- The UK government, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy speaking about the proposal.
- What
- The government is considering adding Vinted and eBay to its planned social media ban for under-16s.
- When
- The ban is due to come into force in March 2027.
- Where
- The United Kingdom.
- Why
- Nandy said the move would be to keep children safe. The Sunday Times reported concerns that messaging functions could let strangers groom children.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The newspaper reported that the planned ban was being expanded to include resale platforms.
Lisa Nandy said the government was seriously considering including Vinted and eBay.
The UK social media ban for under-16s is due to come into force.
- Minimum age
- Under 16s
- Planned start
- March 2027
- Platforms under consideration
- Vinted and eBay
- Other platforms mentioned in the report
- Depop and Facebook Marketplace
- Vinted UK users
- 17 million
- Minimum user age stated by Vinted and eBay
- 18
What people are saying
We are looking seriously at doing so in order to keep children safe.