VINTED users have been left feeling “disturbed” after realising that pictures of them modelling clothes have been stolen and sexualised online.
The online second-hand marketplace has 16 million users in the UK and has helped reduce textiles waste, whilst allowing its users to make some extra cash.
Second hand clothing app Vinted has a hidden dark side[/caption]
Ellie Flynn spoke to women who had been targeted by the website[/caption]
However, the app has a hidden darkside.
In a new Channel 4 documentary, Vinted‘s Dirty Laundry: Dispatches, presenter Ellie Flynn revealed that images of women selling their clothes on Vinted, are being stolen and put on another website, called Vinted S****.
The tagline of the website is ‘when you sell your clothes but you want the attention’ and most of the women featured on the website have no idea that their pictures are being used.
Ellie explained: “It’s basically just massively oversexualising women who are trying to sell clothes on Vinted, it has loads of different profiles of different women all over the world.
“Some of the images of women who are selling things like bikinis or summer outfits that are more tight fitting.
“Some of them are just everyday outfits but they are all being used in a way that is overtly sexual and absolutely not what these women were intending.
“It’s just so gross. I will never cease to be amazed by the things you can find on the internet but this really does feel like a new low.”
After discovering the website, Ellie decided to contact some of the girls who are featured, to let them know that their images are being used.
One of the victims, Lydia, 28 said that the discovery made her feel extremely vulnerable.
She said: “‘It’s very disturbing. I had no idea this was happening, and it has made me feel extremely unsafe.”
Ellie then told Lydia that the website linked back to her Vinted page, which she said made her feel “really scared”.
“We’re just innocent people wanting to sell our clothes and I’m guessing half of these people on this website don’t even know this is happening to them,” Lydia said.
Due to the stress of discovering the website, Lydia decided to remove any pictures of her wearing items from Vinted, and replaced them with images of the clothes on hangers instead.
Why I hate Vinted, a real-life view
Fabulous Associate Editor Sarah Barns opens up on why she hates Vinted:
It’s the king of second-hand fashion but I hate Vinted.
There I said it. Yes, it stops items going into landfill. Yes, it helps create additional side-hustle income for many.
And yes, you can get things at bargain prices. But it is just not my (shopping) bag.
From personal experience, I’ve bought ‘cheap’ bundles of children’s clothes only for them to arrive dirty and misshapen.
Plus, with postage and buyer protection they didn’t feel like such a great deal. I much prefer going to my local charity shop or supermarket for kids’ stuff.
I’ve also bought more premium high-street items – a dress from Arket and a skirt from Cos – only to find they didn’t fit properly and the colours were faded.
I attempted a bout of selling stuff but gave up after my £110 Veja trainers got lost in the post and I spent two hours on the phone to Royal Mail.
A major gripe with it is that it still encourages you to spend, spend, spend. I’m not sure I needed the items I did purchase, I just didn’t want to miss out.
Also, the reselling of fast-fashion items – a £5 Shein top on Vinted for £17.50 – makes me feel a bit queasy.
Clothes shopping has become a daily hobby for a lot of people when really it should be something that’s done once or twice a year as a necessity.
But the 18 million Vinted app users clearly disagree with me.
Lydia reported the website to Vinted, commenting that the website felt very sexual in nature and made her feel unsafe.
However, after 11 days still hadn’t received a response.
Thankfully, after Dispatches reported the website, it was finally taken down.
Vinted said to the Channel 4 programme: “We are taking the allegations seriously…we act as swiftly as we can against anything that violates our terms and conditions…[including] measures that may result in the definitive blocking of sellers who repeatedly ignore our policy… we understand that members are not always aware that the item they sell or buy might be recalled…
“Our teams are … constantly working on improving and developing new tools and technologies to improve our systems…
“We’re very sorry to hear of these experiences … and commit to take the necessary action against members who violate our community standards…
‘”We have a number of measures in place to uphold safety on the platform and are constantly updating these processes and improving our level of personal member support.
“We have reported the website mentioned to request an immediate shutdown.”
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