🔗 Share this article British Pornography Site Visits Declines After Age Checks, Yet VPN Use Spikes, Reports Regulator Access to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these restrictions has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Law Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an immediate fall in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Figures shows that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July implementation date. Later data shows this decline in site visits persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking internet traffic via another country—more than doubled following 25 July. User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Actions ranged from flagging the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it. This research was carried out before new rules took effect that require social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the government announced it would review the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations Advocates for better control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using youthful performers portraying children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by site systems. Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform 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 decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.
Access to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these restrictions has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Law Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an immediate fall in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Figures shows that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July implementation date. Later data shows this decline in site visits persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking internet traffic via another country—more than doubled following 25 July. User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Actions ranged from flagging the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it. This research was carried out before new rules took effect that require social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the government announced it would review the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations Advocates for better control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using youthful performers portraying children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by site systems. Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform 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 decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.