🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Site Visits Declines Following Age Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog Traffic to pornography websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased. Sharp Drop in User Figures After Law Implementation The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to major pornography sites, including the leading site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July deadline. Later analysis indicates this downward trend in site visits persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Restrictions In response to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based restrictions by routing connections through another nation—surged after 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Responding to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content online. Actions included reporting the content to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was conducted before new rules came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Announce Examination of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government announced it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
Traffic to pornography websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased. Sharp Drop in User Figures After Law Implementation The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to major pornography sites, including the leading site in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July deadline. Later analysis indicates this downward trend in site visits persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Restrictions In response to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based restrictions by routing connections through another nation—surged after 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Responding to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content online. Actions included reporting the content to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was conducted before new rules came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Announce Examination of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government announced it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.