🔗 Share this article British Adult Content Traffic Falls Following Age Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the nation's communications regulator. Concurrently, the usage of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Immediate Drop in Visitor Numbers Following Law Implementation The enforcement of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt reduction in visits to major online adult platforms, including the most visited site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later data indicates this downward trend in site visits continued beyond August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content online. Steps taken included flagging the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it. This survey was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation Separately, the government stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to criminalising, for example, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates for better regulation of online pornography have called on the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using youthful performers dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to generate private images without permission. Create a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the nation's communications regulator. Concurrently, the usage of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Immediate Drop in Visitor Numbers Following Law Implementation The enforcement of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt reduction in visits to major online adult platforms, including the most visited site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later data indicates this downward trend in site visits continued beyond August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content online. Steps taken included flagging the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it. This survey was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation Separately, the government stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to criminalising, for example, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates for better regulation of online pornography have called on the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using youthful performers dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to generate private images without permission. Create a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.