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Government ‘looking seriously’ at banning under-16s from Vinted and eBay
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says the government is “looking seriously” at adding Vinted and eBay to the platforms barred to under-16s, as part of efforts to keep children safe. The possible move would extend a social media ban due to begin in March next year, amid concerns that messaging features could let strangers contact and groom children.
No final list of affected platforms has been published. Vinted and eBay both say users must be at least 18, while Vinted has 17 million users in the UK. The planned restrictions will cover platforms that enable social interaction and allow users to post material; some gaming features, such as Roblox chat, may also be restricted.
In short
- Vinted and eBay could be added to the under-16s ban.
- The government cites child safety concerns around messaging.
- The full list of restricted platforms is still pending.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters could argue that marketplaces with messaging features give strangers a way to contact children, creating risks of grooming that age rules alone may not prevent. Including these platforms in the planned restrictions could make safeguards more consistent and give parents greater confidence that children are protected online.
The case against
Critics could argue that extending a broad age ban to buying and selling platforms may restrict young people’s access to useful services without showing that a blanket restriction is the best way to address messaging risks. They may favour targeted safeguards, such as stronger age checks and limits on contact from strangers, while preserving legitimate access for teenagers.
Explained simply
The proposed restrictions are part of a government plan to limit under-16s’ access to some online platforms from March next year. The rules are intended to address risks to children, including contact from strangers, but the government has not published the final list of services they will cover.
Vinted and eBay are online marketplaces where people buy and sell goods. Both say users must be at least 18, though Vinted has 17 million users in the UK. The debate is about whether features such as messaging and posting make marketplaces similar enough to social platforms to fall under the new rules.
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