🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Traffic Falls After Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the UK has decreased markedly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the nation's communications authority. Concurrently, the adoption of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate decline in visits to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading provider in the UK. Figures shows that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can bypass location-based restrictions by masking connections through another country—surged after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to muting the person who shared it. This research was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing harmful material. Government Announce Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern digital age. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking performers dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue 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 decreased markedly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the nation's communications authority. Concurrently, the adoption of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate decline in visits to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading provider in the UK. Figures shows that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can bypass location-based restrictions by masking connections through another country—surged after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to muting the person who shared it. This research was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing harmful material. Government Announce Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern digital age. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking performers dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation aim to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.