UK Pornography Traffic Declines After Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, States Regulator
Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has surged.
Sharp Drop in User Numbers Following Law Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt reduction in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Later analysis suggests this slump in viewing persisted past August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Restrictions
Reacting to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic blocks by masking internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July.
User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the checks began. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.
Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Material
Elsewhere, the regulator's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the platform to muting the person who shared it.
This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that compel social media companies to stop children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Ministers Launch Examination of Pornography Legislation
In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern digital age.
“The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official.
Campaigners Call For Stricter Digital Controls
Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using youthful adults portraying children.
Proposed changes to government bills aim to:
- Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
- Add additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent oversight agency to conduct inspections on adult platforms and respond to complaints of illegal content.
The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
