UK Pornography Traffic Falls After Age Verifications, But VPN Usage Spikes, States Regulator
Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. Concurrently, the use of tools designed to dodge these blocks has risen.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Numbers Following Law Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt decline in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the leading site in the UK. Data indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
In total, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing continued past August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
Reacting to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July.
Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites.
Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content online. Actions included flagging the material to the site to muting the person who shared it.
This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that require platforms to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws
Separately, the ministers announced it would review the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age.
“The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Regulations
Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have called on the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.
Suggested changes to government bills aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms.
- Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to complaints of unlawful content.
The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.
