🔗 Share this article British Pornography Site Visits Falls After Age Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog Access to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the roll-out of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has surged. Sharp Fall in User Numbers After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an prompt fall in traffic to major online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data shows this slump in site visits persisted past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another nation—surged following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out before new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
Access to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the roll-out of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has surged. Sharp Fall in User Numbers After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an prompt fall in traffic to major online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data shows this slump in site visits persisted past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another nation—surged following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out before new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.