British Pornography Site Visits Falls Following Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Regulator
Traffic to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Numbers Following Rule Implementation
The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an prompt decline in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, traffic to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this decline in site visits persisted past August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions
Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July.
User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult services.
Young People Responding to Harmful Material
In other findings, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the material to the site to blocking the user who posted it.
This survey was carried out prior to new rules took effect that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing dangerous 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.
Government Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation
Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.
“The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in relation to criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official.
Campaigners Push For Tighter Online Regulations
Advocates for tighter regulation of adult content 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 young-looking adults portraying children.
Suggested changes to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by platform systems.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and act on complaints of unlawful content.
The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years offline finally apply to the online sphere.
