UK Adult Content Traffic Falls After Age Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Surges, Reports Watchdog

Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has surged.

Sharp Drop in User Figures After Rule Implementation

The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July caused an swift fall in visits to popular online adult platforms, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures shows that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024.

Overall, traffic to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later analysis shows this slump in site visits continued beyond August.

Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Evade Checks

Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking connections through another country—surged following 25 July.

User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites.

Young People Responding to Damaging Material

In other findings, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the user who posted it.

This research was conducted prior to new regulations took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to suicide and adult material. The primary way young people came across such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.

Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws

In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.

“The examination will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official.

Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations

Campaigners for tighter control of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking performers portraying children.

Suggested amendments to legislation aim to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
• Extend the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
• Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by platform systems.
• Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to create non-consensual nude images.
• Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content.

The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.