A woman expressed her dismay with the e-commerce platform Vinted for not removing a profile displaying discriminatory content. Justine, aged 55, encountered an anti-Semitic remark on the app while browsing through listings. The seller, identified as stefsbitsforsale, posted a knitted pouffe footstall with the offensive statement “No Jews allowed” in the product description. Another listing for a stamp set contained the phrase “dont be a jew.”
Residing in Portsmouth, Justine reported the offensive comment to Vinted but was informed that it did not violate the platform’s community standards. Despite her shock, she received a response from Vinted the following day. The company stated that the content did not breach their guidelines and suggested blocking the account instead of taking action.
Vinted’s community guidelines explicitly prohibit hate speech and discrimination based on various factors. Justine criticized Vinted’s response, expressing her disappointment in not seeing immediate action taken against the offensive account. She emphasized the seriousness of such behavior and its impact, especially on a platform like Vinted where users come to engage in buying and selling activities.
Following The Mirror’s intervention, the account was eventually blocked by Vinted, and the offensive listings were removed. Justine highlighted that the footstool listing had garnered likes from nine users, potentially exposing more individuals to the hateful content. Additionally, she criticized the seller for maintaining anonymity by not revealing a face or name, labeling them as a coward for espousing hate speech with impunity.
Vinted reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory language and assured that appropriate measures were taken against the offending member. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of combating hate speech and maintaining a safe online environment for all users.