UK considers extending under-16 social media ban to Vinted and eBay

Marketplaces under review

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the government is looking at including resale platforms in its planned ban on social media for under-16s. The concern centres on chat and messaging functions, which could let adults send private messages to young people and expose them to grooming. The Sunday Times reported that Vinted, Depop, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are among the services that could face the ban.

“We are looking seriously at doing so in order to keep children safe.”

Nandy has not confirmed a decision, and the full list of covered services has not yet been published.

How the platforms respond

Vinted says direct messaging is part of how the platform works, but it describes a zero tolerance policy for harmful content and points to moderator teams and tools that detect and remove breaches of its rules. The company says it welcomes open dialogue with ministers and the regulator. eBay says all of its members must be over 18 because listings create a contract between buyer and seller, and it says it is looking forward to working constructively with the government. Vinted says it is aimed at over-18s, yet its terms allow parents or guardians to open accounts for children under parental supervision. Depop requires users to be 13 or older to sign up and over 18 to use PayPal and Depop Payments, while Facebook Marketplace is restricted to adults over 18.

The wider under-16 ban

Then prime minister Keir Starmer announced the under-16 social media ban in June 2026, after a nationwide consultation showed support for the measures. Defending the policy, he said he would not present it as cost-free, and he concluded:

“But government is always about choices, and it's clear to me that a full ban is the right choice.”

The restriction is due to take effect in spring 2027, with Rzeczpospolita giving March as the start month. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube and X are expected to be covered, while YouTube Kids is not expected to be. The plans would reportedly cover the ten largest platforms, along with live-streaming services and platforms where strangers can contact children, including gaming platforms. Roblox would not be fully blocked, but access to some of its features, including chat, would be restricted. Video game chat functions could also be switched off for young players.

What comes next

Ofcom recommended in October 2026 four ways social media companies could check whether users are old enough, including ID checks and facial recognition software. Nandy is due to publish the list of covered social media platforms later this year. The government has said it will follow the Australian model, and Sir Keir said the ban would take world-leading action. Marketplaces remain under consideration rather than confirmed, and eBay says it is still waiting for more information about the proposed rules.