🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Identity Checks, But VPN Use Spikes, Reports Regulator Access to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly since the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has risen. Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers After Law Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent analysis suggests this decline in viewing continued past August. Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites. Young People Responding to Damaging Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Launch Examination of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers announced it would review the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates 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 child sexual abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children. Suggested amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms. Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
Access to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly since the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has risen. Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers After Law Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent analysis suggests this decline in viewing continued past August. Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites. Young People Responding to Damaging Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing harmful material. Government Launch Examination of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers announced it would review the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Controls Advocates 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 child sexual abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children. Suggested amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms. Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years offline finally are extended to the online sphere.