Vinted and eBay could be included in under-16 social media ban, minister says

The UK government is seriously considering banning children under 16 from online sales platforms including eBay and Vinted, according to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. Sky News reported that Ms Nandy confirmed the administration is looking seriously at the extension to keep children safe, following reports in The Sunday Times. The move addresses concerns that messaging functions on these platforms could facilitate the grooming of children. Research by Ofcom cited by Sky News indicates that 19 percent of children aged eight to 14 use eBay each month, while 15 percent use Vinted. The Children's Society warned in a report that children in need of money are targeted on sites such as Vinted and Facebook Marketplace, where they may be asked for indecent photos in exchange for money or receive packages with drugs included to lure them into using certain accounts. The wider government crackdown stems from an age-based social media ban announced by Sir Keir Starmer, which Andy Burnham plans to press ahead with, as reported by Manchester Evening News and Sky News. Regulations confirming the initial social media ban are expected to be introduced by ministers by the end of the year, with rules anticipated to be in place from late spring 2027. Platforms expected to face the initial social media ban include Facebook, X, and Instagram, while marketplaces such as Vinted, Depop, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace could face restrictions in the spring according to The Sunday Times. A similar ban was introduced in Australia last year, according to Sky News. In a related development reported by Inven Global, the UK is also moving to restrict in-game chat with strangers for under-16s. Meanwhile, Biometric Update noted that Ofcom published a rapid assessment identifying facial age estimation, photo ID matching, digital identity services, and banking information as four possible methods for age assurance, though watchdogs warn these measures can be circumvented.