🔗 Share this article British Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Identity Checks, But VPN Use Spikes, Reports Regulator Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these blocks has increased. Immediate Fall in User Numbers After Rule Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an immediate fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading site in the UK. Data indicates 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. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis shows this slump in site visits persisted past August. Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Restrictions In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current numbers at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was carried out before new regulations came into force that require platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Announce Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for better control of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using youthful adults portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has decreased markedly after the roll-out of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these blocks has increased. Immediate Fall in User Numbers After Rule Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an immediate fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading site in the UK. Data indicates 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. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis shows this slump in site visits persisted past August. Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Restrictions In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current numbers at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was carried out before new regulations came into force that require platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Announce Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for better control of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using youthful adults portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.