UK Government Considers Age Restrictions for Vinted and eBay Under-16s
The UK government is examining whether to extend a proposed social media ban for children under 16 to online resale platforms Vinted and eBay. The move aims to protect young users from exploitation and harmful content. A government source cited increasing evidence that children under 16 were being targeted and placed at risk on these platforms. Vinted has 17 million UK users and allows parental supervision for accounts, while eBay requires members to be over 18. Both platforms have expressed openness to engaging with the government on the proposals. The potential restrictions could be enacted through secondary legislation by the end of 2027, alongside the broader social media ban expected in March 2027. eBay and Vinted are considering how child safety measures might affect their business models and user bases.
Key facts
- Vinted has 17 million UK users and allows parental supervision for under-16 accounts
- eBay requires all members to be over 18 due to contractual requirements
- About 19 percent of children aged 8-14 access eBay monthly; approximately 15 percent use Vinted monthly
- A report by The Children's Society warned that young people on Vinted and Facebook Marketplace were targeted with requests for indecent images
- Potential age restrictions could be enacted through secondary legislation by the end of 2027
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Child protection advocates on the left stress the evidence of exploitation and abuse on these platforms, particularly targeting disadvantaged children. They emphasize that platforms like Vinted and eBay have inadequate safeguards and that regulatory action is necessary to prevent predatory behaviour and grooming.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets emphasize government overreach concerns and question whether age bans on commercial platforms are the appropriate solution. They argue that parental responsibility, personal freedom, and clear business operations should take priority over blanket restrictions.
Limits of this briefing
Most recent coverage focuses on the child safety angle announced in November 2025. Earlier regulatory coverage involved DAC7 tax reporting rules (implemented 2024), a separate regulatory framework. The full scope and enforcement mechanism of potential age restrictions remain unclear and subject to government consultation.
Sources
- TheIndustry.fashion: Government considers extending under-16s social media ban to Vinted and eBay Centre
- GB News: Labour crackdown: Millions of Britons face Vinted and eBay ban as Government 'looks seriously' at move Right
- Full Fact: There's no new tax rule for Vinted, Airbnb and eBay sellers Centre
- Euro Weekly News: New rules for second-hand online sellers Centre
- The Conversation: Selling on Vinted, Etsy or eBay? Here's what you need to know about paying tax Left