Children could soon be banned from online marketplaces such as eBay and Vinted, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has revealed. Ms Nandy is reportedly weighing up whether to extend the social media ban for under-16s to online selling platforms, amid growing concerns that their messaging features could be exploited by predators looking to groom youngsters.
Government considering extending ban
When quizzed on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg about whether she would extend the ban to such websites, Ms Nandy said: "We are looking seriously at doing so in order to keep children safe."
The move follows a Sunday Times report revealing the Culture Secretary is mulling over the proposal. Later this year, she is set to publish details of which social media platforms will be prohibited from allowing users under 16 years old.
Platforms potentially affected
Facebook, Instagram and X are all expected to feature on the list, but the Sunday Times reported Ms Nandy could go even further in the spring by extending the crackdown to online marketplaces. Vinted, Depop, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are amongst those potentially facing the axe, according to the newspaper.
Rani Govender, head of child safety online at the NSPCC, backed the Culture Secretary, saying she was "right to consider a wider range of platforms". She added: "Vinted and eBay already have a minimum age of 18, so the real question is how the Government and Ofcom will ensure highly effective age checks are implemented and enforced to stop children accessing them in the first place."
Context of the proposed ban
Earlier this year, when Keir Starmer was Prime Minister, a ban was introduced on under-16s using social media. At the time, Sir Keir said: "This is not something I do lightly, and I will not present it as cost-free, as if social media has brought no benefits to young people, because clearly that is wrong. But government is always about choices, and it’s clear to me that a full ban is the right choice."
No comments have been made by anyone from Vinted, Depop, eBay and Facebook Marketplace at the time of writing.
