British Adult Content Site Visits Declines After Age Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog
Traffic to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to bypass these restrictions has surged.
Immediate Fall in User Figures After Rule Implementation
The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an swift reduction in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading site in the UK. Data reveals that user traffic to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
In total, traffic to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent analysis shows this slump in viewing continued beyond August.
Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic blocks by masking connections through another country—surged after 25 July.
Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services.
Teenagers Taking Action to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content online. Actions included flagging the material to the site to muting the user who posted it.
This survey was carried out prior to new rules took effect that require platforms to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material.
Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Laws
In a related development, the ministers announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.
“The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” said a justice minister.
Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations
Advocates for better control of adult content have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children.
Proposed changes to legislation aim to:
- Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
- Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, separate oversight agency to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of illegal content.
The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the online sphere.
