British Adult Content Site Visits Declines Following Age Checks, But VPN Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog
Visitor numbers to pornography sites in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. Concurrently, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased.
Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July led to an swift decline in visits to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform 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 adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the late July deadline. Later analysis shows this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Restrictions
In response to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking connections via another country—more than doubled following 25 July.
Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites.
Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material
In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the user who shared it.
This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a platform feed, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Government Launch Examination of Pornography Laws
Separately, the government stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.
“The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Regulations
Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking adults portraying children.
Proposed changes to government bills seek to:
- Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
- Introduce tighter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site systems.
- Add additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Create a new, separate oversight agency to perform inspections on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content.
The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
