"Vinted Survey: Unwanted Sexual Advances Experienced by Users on the Second-Hand Clothing Platform"
In the realm of online clothing resale platforms, Vinted has become a popular destination for users worldwide. However, it's not just about buying and selling pre-loved items; for many female users, the experience can be marred by inappropriate behaviour and harassment, particularly sexual harassment.
Vinted acknowledges this issue and has implemented a "zero-tolerance" policy, swiftly removing offending material once it is reported. Users are also encouraged to protect their anonymity by avoiding posting photos with visible faces or personal information. The platform has also improved its reporting mechanisms, making it easier for users to flag harassment.
Despite these efforts, some users report that harassment persists as offenders often return with new accounts, creating ongoing challenges similar to "digital street harassment." To combat this, Vinted proactively contacts third-party websites to remove stolen images and has helped shut down harmful Telegram channels spreading harassing content related to its community.
Legal experts advise users who face harassment to report abuse not only through the platform but also to local authorities and to websites hosting stolen content, supporting a multi-level defense strategy. The EU’s Digital Services Act, effective since February 2024, will further strengthen protections for users by legally compelling platforms like Vinted to delete illegal and harmful content.
Marie, a user on Vinted, took precautions while posting ads, ensuring clothes were shown clearly but avoiding showing her face or feet. When she received inappropriate messages, she reported the user, and the account was suspended the next day for violating the rules. Reported accounts on Vinted are quickly blocked by the platform, sometimes within a few hours.
Inappropriate messages on Vinted also target children, according to similar stories on social media. Influencer Fanny Simon shares a story of a mother who received an offer of more money than the selling price of an item, on the condition that her daughter wore it all day.
Content creator @jade_mnl, who regularly shares thrifting tips on TikTok, also experiences crude messages on Vinted. These messages range from requests to send photos of her feet or see her without the top, to comments like "your closet made me really hot." @jade_mnl now responds "in a somewhat aggressive way to tell them 'back off'."
As the fight against harassment continues, it's clear that while resale platforms implement policies and technical tools to fight harassment, the persistence of offenders requires ongoing vigilance, user cooperation, and legal frameworks to ensure community safety.
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