UK to ban under-16s from Vinted, eBay, and Depop alongside social media
The UK plans to extend its under-16 social-media ban to resale platforms Vinted and eBay, targeting messaging features that regulators say expose children to grooming. Enforcement begins March 2025, backed by Ofcom’s age-verification guidelines.
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Expansion to e-commerce platforms
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed that the government is "looking seriously" at adding peer-to-peer resale platforms Vinted and eBay to the list of services banned for users under 16. The change would take effect in March 2025 alongside restrictions already planned for Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Why regulators are targeting messaging features
The decision stems from concerns that messaging functions on these platforms allow strangers to contact and groom children. Other resale services, including Depop and Facebook Marketplace, are also under consideration for inclusion in the ban.
Current age policies and planned restrictions
Vinted and eBay currently require users to be at least 18, but regulators are concerned that age checks are not rigorously enforced. YouTube Kids will remain accessible, while the main YouTube platform will be restricted. Roblox, meanwhile, will not be banned outright but will face restrictions on its chat functions.
Ofcom’s role in enforcement
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, has recommended methods for verifying user age, which platforms will need to implement to comply with the ban. The regulator’s guidance is expected to become the benchmark for enforcement.
Comparison with Australia’s approach
Australia introduced a similar ban last year, but enforcement has been inconsistent, with many teenagers finding ways to bypass restrictions. The UK government has stated it intends to take a stricter approach, aiming to close loopholes that have allowed underage access in other markets.
How the UK policy contrasts with other markets
Earlier this year, California proposed banning infinite scroll, autoplay, and personalized feeds for users under 16, a move tech companies are challenging in court. The UK’s approach, by contrast, does not focus on feed algorithms but on outright age-based access restrictions.
In July, the EU accused TikTok’s For You feed of violating safety rules by exposing users to harmful content, highlighting regulatory scrutiny beyond age bans.
What this means
Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.
The UK’s move signals a widening definition of “social media” that now includes e-commerce and resale platforms. Founders in these sectors—especially those offering chat, livestreaming, or peer-to-peer sales—should audit their age-verification flows and moderation tools before March 2025. Compare this with California’s age-gate push (background item): US platforms are litigating, while UK platforms must comply or face enforcement.
Key takeaways
- UK e-commerce founders face the same age-verification rules as social-media operators starting March 2025.
- Chat or messaging features on resale platforms can trigger inclusion in the under-16 ban.
- Ofcom’s age-check guidelines are the de facto standard; testing them now avoids last-minute retrofits.
- The UK’s approach is stricter than Australia’s, where workarounds are common—raising the compliance bar for global players.
Related on Lazyfounder
Sources
- BBC News (Tech & Business) · 2026-11-08
Vinted and eBay could be included in under-16 social media ban, minister says
This story is an original summary drafted with AI by Lazyfounder from the reporting listed above and checked by automated validation. Facts are attributed to their original publishers; sections marked as analysis are Lazyfounder's. Where a source is in another language, facts were machine-translated and quotations are reported, not reproduced. Read the original coverage via the links, and see our AI policy and corrections policy.
About the author
Editor, Lazyfounder
Tarun Mottlia edits LazyFounders, covering Indian startups, funding rounds, AI and product launches. Every story on the site is AI-assisted and checked against its cited sources before publication.
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