Government considering banning under-16s from Vinted and eBay

The government is seriously considering banning children from online sales platforms such as eBay and Vinted, the culture secretary has said.

Lisa Nandy is said to be considering extending the social media ban for under-16s to the marketplaces amid concerns that their messaging functions could facilitate the grooming of children.

Asked on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg if she would extend the ban to the websites, Ms Nandy said: "We are looking seriously at doing so in order to keep children safe."

It comes after The Sunday Times reported the culture secretary is weighing up the move.

She will, later this year, publish details on which social media platforms will be banned from having under-16 users.

This is expected to include Facebook, X, and Instagram, but The Sunday Times reported Ms Nandy could go further in the spring and extend the ban to marketplaces.

Vinted, Depop, eBay and Facebook Marketplace could all face the ban, according to the paper.

Some 19% of children in the eight to 14 age range use eBay each month and 15% use Vinted, according to research by Ofcom.

The Children's Society warned in a report that children in need of money are targeted on sites such as Vinted and Facebook Marketplace.

Children will be "asked for indecent photos in exchange for money" or will "receive packages with drugs included to lure them into using certain accounts", the report said.

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Last month, Ofcom said social media age checks could help protect under-16s from inappropriate online content, but warned some children may find ways around them.

The warning came in a report assessing the effectiveness of proposed measures to restrict youngsters' access to adult or harmful content or addictive apps.

Banking checks, photo ID, digital ID and facial age estimation technology could be "highly effective" at checking whether users are 16 or older, but all four methods could be circumvented, the watchdog said.

Andy Burnham plans to press ahead with the age-based social media ban announced by Sir Keir Starmer towards the end of his time as prime minister.

Ministers are expected to introduce regulations confirming the ban by the end of the year, with plans for the rules to be in place from late spring 2027. A similar ban was introduced in Australia last year.

In September, the culture secretary warned there has been a "violent indifference" to the harms caused to women and children online.

Ms Nandy suggested those in power should be "ashamed" that the current situation has led to an upcoming social media ban for under-16s.

In her Labour Party conference speech, she issued a "collective call to arms" to the technology sector, saying: "Let this country pioneer technology as an unequivocal force for good."

Ms Nandy had earlier said: "We'll be the first in the world to introduce legislation to make it impossible for children to take, share, or view nude images.

"We will be the first in the world to introduce a comprehensive social media offer for children."

(c) Sky News 2026: Government considering banning under-16s from Vinted and eBay