Depop Safety Guide for Parents
A guide for parents on Depop — a second-hand fashion resale app popular with teenagers — including scam risks, address sharing, and image-based concerns.
Official age
13+
We recommend
16+
Developer
Depop Ltd (Etsy)
Risks
4
Overview
Depop is a peer-to-peer fashion resale app that combines elements of a marketplace with a social feed. Owned by Etsy since 2021, it is particularly popular with teenagers and young adults interested in vintage, second-hand, and sustainable fashion. Unlike Vinted, Depop has a social element — users can follow sellers, comment on listings, and build a following. Listings often feature the seller modelling the clothes, which creates specific risks around image-based content.
How children use it
Teenagers use Depop to buy affordable second-hand clothes and to sell their own items. Many aspiring teenage entrepreneurs build small Depop businesses selling thrifted or customised clothing. Because sellers typically photograph themselves wearing items, there is a significant image-sharing dimension to Depop that distinguishes it from other resale platforms.
Main risks
Recommended privacy settings
Profile Photos
Location: Listing photos and profile photo
Set to: Avoid identifiable details in listing photos — no school uniform, visible address, or identifiable location
Many teenagers photograph themselves wearing items for sale. Ensuring listing photos do not include school uniform, identifiable locations, or other personal information is important.
Shipping Only
Location: Listing settings
Set to: Use Depop shipping — do not arrange collection or share address
Depop provides a shipping label system. Never share a home address directly with a buyer — use the platform's shipping system only.
Parent actions
Review your child's Depop profile and listings — check that listing photos do not reveal identifiable personal information
Time: 15 minutes
Talk to your child about common Depop scams — particularly buyers requesting direct bank transfers or PayPal Friends & Family instead of Depop Payments
Time: 15 minutes
Ensure your child uses only Depop's in-app payment system and shipping labels, and never shares their home address with buyers
Time: 10 minutes