The UK is weighing adding eBay and Vinted to its under-16 social media ban over fears strangers could message children through the apps.
The UK government is considering adding eBay and Vinted to its planned social media ban for children under 16. According to the BBC, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says ministers are seriously weighing it. The concern is not shopping itself. It is the built-in messaging, which could let strangers contact children.
The idea follows a Sunday Times report. It raised concerns that messaging in online marketplaces could let strangers contact and possibly groom children. Buyers and sellers on eBay and Vinted can talk directly. Depop and Facebook Marketplace could reportedly face restrictions too.
The UK announced the under-16 ban in June 2026. It targets Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. The wider plans also include limiting risky features, such as livestreaming and communication with strangers, on other online services.
The government has not published a final list of affected platforms. It is still deciding whether to include marketplaces. Both sites already have age rules. eBay requires account holders to be 18, partly because buying and selling involves legally binding contracts. Vinted targets adults, though parents or guardians can set up accounts for minors under their supervision.
The real challenge is making those rules work. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has outlined four possible age checks: photo ID, digital IDs, banking checks and facial age estimation. Detailed regulations are expected before the end of this year, and the broader restrictions are expected in spring 2027.
If you have kids or sell used items in the UK, expect possible stricter age checks and limits on messaging in shopping apps, though nothing is final.
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