🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Traffic Declines After Identity Verifications, But VPN Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the UK has fallen significantly since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has surged. Immediate Drop in User Figures After Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an swift decline in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this decline in site visits continued past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections through another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken included reporting the material to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This research was conducted before new regulations came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Announce Examination of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The examination will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, harmful depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for better control of adult content have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Add additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the UK has fallen significantly since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has surged. Immediate Drop in User Figures After Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an swift decline in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this decline in site visits continued past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections through another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken included reporting the material to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This research was conducted before new regulations came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Announce Examination of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The examination will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, harmful depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for better control of adult content have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Add additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.