Online marketplace Vinted has removed sexually explicit advertisements following a complaint from a user who reported encountering inappropriate content while shopping for clothes. Kirsty Hopley, a 44-year-old resident of Carlisle, stated that she saw a video displaying graphic sexual content while using the app next to her teenage daughter. She reported the incident to Vinted and subsequently reached out to Ofcom.
Ms. Hopley described the video as depicting a disturbing and violent sexual encounter that began playing automatically. As a law and criminology teacher, she installed content filters on her home internet and expressed her surprise at finding such material on an e-commerce platform. She mentioned a reluctance to continue using Vinted due to this experience, despite her previous enjoyment of the site.
Vinted, which does not have age restrictions, has recently faced scrutiny in France regarding sellers directing users to adult content. The advertisement viewed by Ms. Hopley was promoting DramaWave, an app that offers short scripted stories for social media. Vinted has stated that the adverts have now been blocked, citing a zero-tolerance policy towards unsolicited sexual communications and the promotion of sexual content. A spokesperson confirmed that any listings or ads violating these rules would be acted upon.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has underscored the importance of their guidelines, stating that advertisements must not cause harm or offense. The ASA maintains a zero-tolerance stance against harmful or degrading portrayals of women in ads and encourages anyone with concerns to report them.
Ms. Hopley expressed expectations that the UK’s Online Safety Act would prevent explicit content from appearing on her devices, though it was noted that the act primarily targets fraudulent advertising in its current provisions.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn515p22nxno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss