🔗 Share this article British Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Age Verifications, But VPN Use Surges, Reports Regulator Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the UK has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has surged. Sharp Fall in User Figures After Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an prompt fall in traffic to major pornography sites, including the most visited provider in the UK. Figures indicates that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July deadline. Later data suggests this decline in viewing persisted past August. Surge in VPN Usage to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing connections through another nation—more than doubled following 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current numbers at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content online. Actions included flagging the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it. This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Laws Separately, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the UK has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has surged. Sharp Fall in User Figures After Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an prompt fall in traffic to major pornography sites, including the most visited provider in the UK. Figures indicates that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July deadline. Later data suggests this decline in viewing persisted past August. Surge in VPN Usage to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing connections through another nation—more than doubled following 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current numbers at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content online. Actions included flagging the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it. This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Laws Separately, the government announced it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.