The United Kingdom government is considering extending its proposed social media ban for children under 16 to online marketplaces Vinted and eBay, citing concerns over child safety.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government was “looking seriously” at including the platforms in the restrictions as part of efforts to protect children from online harm.

The proposed ban, scheduled to take effect in March 2027, would prevent under-16s from accessing major social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Nandy confirmed the possibility of extending the restrictions to the online shopping platforms.

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

The development followed a report by the Sunday Times that the government was considering expanding the ban to second-hand marketplaces, including Vinted, eBay, Depop and Facebook Marketplace.

The report cited concerns that messaging features on the platforms could expose children to grooming by strangers.

eBay currently requires its members to be at least 18 years old, stating that its listings involve “entering into a contract”.

Vinted, which primarily facilitates the sale of used clothing and fashion items, also targets adults, although its terms allow parents or guardians to create accounts for children under their supervision.

The platform has reportedly grown to 17 million users in the UK.

A Vinted spokesperson said direct messaging was “part of how the platform works” but that it had a “zero tolerance for harmful or explicit content” and maintained moderation teams and tools to identify and remove inappropriate activities.

“When we identify inappropriate behaviour, we take action, up to a permanent ban or reporting to the relevant authorities,” the spokesperson added.

An eBay spokesperson said the company was “focused on providing a trusted and safe marketplace experience for our millions of customers”.

“While the details of the proposed legislation are not yet clear, we look forward to understanding more and continuing to work constructively with the government,” the spokesperson said.

The UK government announced the under-16 social media restriction in June, with 10 major platforms expected to be affected.

YouTube will also be included, although YouTube Kids, its child-focused service, will be exempt.

Authorities have said the restrictions would cover platforms “whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material”.

Services with livestreaming capabilities or features that allow strangers to contact children could also face restrictions, including gaming platforms.

Roblox, a popular gaming platform among children aged eight to 12 in the UK, is not expected to be completely banned. However, certain features, including its chat function, will be restricted.

Matthew Sinclair, a senior director at the Computer and Communications Industry Association, which represents technology companies, warned against expanding the scope of the proposed legislation.

He argued that restricting messaging for under-16s “would not stop at social media and would reach into the services families depend on to stay in touch”, urging the government to “ensure any new restrictions are proportionate and effective.”

The UK initiative follows a similar ban introduced in Australia last year.

Although some children have reportedly found ways to circumvent the restrictions, British authorities have said they intend to adopt a stricter enforcement approach.

Last month, communications regulator Ofcom outlined recommendations for determining which social media users in the UK are above the age of 16.

Rani Govender, head of online child safety at the NSPCC, said effective age verification remained a key concern.
“But effective age checks are only part of the solution,” she added.

“Tech companies must also be required to build child safety into every platform, device and AI tool, so children are protected from harmful and illegal content and only able to access age-appropriate services.”