The dark side of reselling apps: ‘If you include your pants, I’ll pay more’

Detailed summary

Ministers consider banning under-16s from online marketplaces amid reported misuse of messaging functions and users’ photosIn June, Hannah* listed her seven-year-old daughter’s…

Ministers consider banning under-16s from online marketplaces amid reported misuse of messaging functions and users’ photos

In June, Hannah* listed her seven-year-old daughter’s pink swimming costume for sale on Vinted, hoping other parents surfing the reselling site would snap up the £1 offer. Her inbox pinged.

“So a little girl wore this yh [yeah]?” wrote a user with a male handle.

After sending back a barbed “What do you think?”, Hannah swiftly blocked the user and reported the incident to Vinted. She described the exchange as “disgusting” and “disturbing”.

Her experience is just one of the many innocuous listings of children and young people’s secondhand clothes on reselling apps that are attracting sexualised comments through their direct messaging function.

In response, ministers are considering banning under-16s from platforms such as Depop, eBay and Facebook Marketplace, according to the Sunday Times, over mounting fears that their private messaging functions are the latest frontline in child exploitation. Vinted, which has a minimum age of 18, would have to join the other sites in gating access with strict age verification features.

The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, said on Sunday that the government was “looking seriously” at expanding the under-16s social media ban to include online marketplaces. It is understood the regulations were sent for cabinet signoff this week, with Nandy expected to present them to parliament in December.

Young women have posted on TikTok and Reddit about their concerning interactions with buyers. Those exchanges include asking the seller if the item will come with used underwear if they buy it, or unsolicited sexual comments about their appearance.

Lucy* started reselling her pre-loved clothes on Depop when she was 15 and has been subject to many unsettling experiences. Once, she listed an item of clothing for about £10 and a user requested to raise the price.

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