🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Site Visits Declines Following Age Checks, But VPN Usage Spikes, States Regulator Access to pornography sites in the UK has fallen significantly since the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased. Sharp Fall in User Numbers After Rule Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to leading pornography sites, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent data indicates this downward trend in site visits persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Checks In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections through another country—surged after 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 people before the checks began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the user who shared it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the modern digital age. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Controls Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using youthful adults portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Add additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.
Access to pornography sites in the UK has fallen significantly since the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased. Sharp Fall in User Numbers After Rule Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to leading pornography sites, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent data indicates this downward trend in site visits persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Checks In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections through another country—surged after 25 July. User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 people before the checks began. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Material Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to muting the user who shared it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the modern digital age. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Controls Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using youthful adults portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Add additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.