UK considers under-16 ban on Vinted and eBay
The gist
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government is "looking seriously" at banning under-16s from Vinted and eBay.
The wider under-16 social media ban is due to take effect in March 2027.
How it unfolded
- Jun 14, 2026Ministers were considering social media curfews for children, with further details to be unveiled the following month; Whitehall sources described the UK scheme as "Australia-plus".
- Jun 15, 2026Then Prime Minister Keir Starmer said work had begun on a ban on social media use by under-16s, with legislation planned to pass Parliament by the end of the year and the ban taking effect in the first months of next year.
- Nov 8, 2026On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government is "looking seriously" at including Vinted and eBay in the under-16 ban "in order to keep children safe".
Key terms
- Culture Secretary
- The UK cabinet minister responsible for strategy and policy across the department covering digital, culture, media and sport.
- Whitehall
- A London street lined with government ministries whose name is used as a metonym for the British government and civil service.
- Parliament
- The supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, consisting of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the sovereign.
Source: Wikipedia