UK Pornography Site Visits Declines Following Age Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Regulator
Access to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly since the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to dodge these blocks has increased.
Sharp Drop in User Numbers After Law Enforcement
The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an immediate decline in visits to popular online adult platforms, including the leading site in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
Overall, traffic to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent analysis shows this downward trend in viewing continued beyond August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Restrictions
In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another country—surged after 25 July.
Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, up from approximately 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current figures at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.
Young People Responding to Harmful Material
Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the material to the site to muting the user who shared it.
This research was carried out prior to new rules took effect that require social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material.
Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws
In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing online world.
“The examination will look into the effectiveness of the current law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official.
Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls
Advocates for tighter control of adult content have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.
Proposed amendments to government bills seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Introduce tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
- Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content.
The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
