Government Considers Extending Social Media Ban to eBay and Vinted

The UK government is considering extending its planned ban on social media for under-16s to include online marketplaces like eBay and Vinted, citing concerns about the potential for grooming. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated the government is “looking seriously” at the expansion, which would also encompass Depop and Facebook Marketplace. The social media ban, set to take effect in March, initially targeted platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. The move stems from fears that messaging functions on these platforms, including the marketplaces, could be exploited by individuals seeking to groom children.

Vinted, with 17 million UK users, currently allows parents or guardians to create accounts for their children under 18 with parental supervision, while eBay requires all members to be over 18 due to contractual obligations. Both companies have expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the government regarding the proposed changes. Vinted highlighted its zero-tolerance policy for harmful content and moderation tools, while eBay stated it looks forward to understanding the details of the legislation.

The government announced the social media ban in June, following a nationwide consultation that showed overwhelming support for the measure, with nine in ten parents backing decisive action. Then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the ban as “world-leading” and aimed at preventing strangers from contacting children online. The government intends to model the ban on Australia’s approach, incorporating measures to address AI chatbots and enforce age verification.

Background

• The UK government announced plans to ban social media for under-16s in June, following a consultation showing strong public support for the measure [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-08].
• Then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the initial ban as “world-leading” and aimed at preventing online contact between children and strangers [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-08].
• Vinted currently allows parental supervision for accounts created for children under 18, while eBay requires all members to be over 18 due to contractual obligations [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-08].
• Australia has implemented measures for age verification that the UK government intends to model its ban on [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-08].

Our reading

Our reading is that the government is taking a broad approach to protecting children online, extending planned restrictions beyond traditional social media platforms to encompass a wider range of online marketplaces. This suggests a concern that grooming risks are not limited to platforms designed for social interaction, but exist wherever children might communicate with adults. The willingness of both Vinted and eBay to engage in dialogue indicates they anticipate potential changes to their operating procedures.

What to watch

• The specific details of the legislation extending the ban, including the definition of “grooming” and the enforcement mechanisms, will be released [government website/official statements].
• Engagement between the government and eBay/Vinted, specifically any agreements reached regarding age verification or moderation practices, will be reported [company press releases/government announcements].
• The publication of the government’s modelling of the Australian approach to age verification will be released [government website/official statements].

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