🔗 Share this article British Pornography Traffic Falls Following Age Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, Reports Watchdog Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the UK has decreased markedly after the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an prompt fall in traffic to major pornography sites, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, traffic to the ten top adult services in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis shows this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites. Young People Responding to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the user who posted it. This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Government Launch Review of Adult Content Laws Separately, the ministers stated it would review the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter control 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 youthful performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site systems. Add additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally apply to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the UK has decreased markedly after the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an prompt fall in traffic to major pornography sites, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, traffic to the ten top adult services in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis shows this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites. Young People Responding to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the user who posted it. This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Government Launch Review of Adult Content Laws Separately, the ministers stated it would review the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter control 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 youthful performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site systems. Add additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally apply to the digital age.