Government weighs ban on under-16s using eBay, Vinted and Depop
Ministers are seriously considering restricting under-16s from using eBay, Vinted and Depop, a move that would sit alongside planned rules on young people's social media use.
The government is seriously considering a ban that would stop under-16s from using the resale and marketplace platforms eBay, Vinted and Depop, according to reporting on the proposal. No decision has yet been taken, and the idea is still under consideration rather than confirmed policy.
The concern behind the proposal centres on online safety for young users. Vinted, a secondhand clothing resale platform, and Depop, a resale marketplace popular with young people, are both named in the reporting alongside eBay. The discussions were prompted by comments from a minister, Nandy, which led to the reports on the plans.
The proposal comes at a time when the government is preparing rules on under-16s and social media. A separate ban on under-16s using social media was previously announced in June, and the marketplace idea would extend the focus on children's online activity beyond social networks into commercial platforms where young people buy and sell goods.
Several important details remain unclear. There is no firm decision or confirmed timetable for any restriction. The scope of a possible ban, including how it would be applied and enforced, has not been set out. It is also not known whether any rules would extend beyond the three platforms named so far.
Until a decision is made, the reporting leaves open how such a restriction would work in practice for platforms that many young people use to resell clothing and other items. Any move to formally announce rules would be expected to clarify the scope and enforcement method.
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
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