British Pornography Traffic Falls Following Age Verifications, But VPN Usage Surges, States Watchdog
Traffic to adult content websites in the UK has fallen significantly since the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the country's communications regulator. At the same time, the use of tools designed to dodge these blocks has surged.
Immediate Drop in User Numbers After Law Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate decline in visits to popular online adult platforms, such as the leading provider in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than before the end-of-July deadline. Later analysis suggests this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks
In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking internet traffic via another nation—surged following 25 July.
User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the checks began. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services.
Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content on the internet. Actions included flagging the material to the site to blocking the user who posted it.
This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material.
Government Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation
In a related development, the government announced it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age.
“The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.
Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations
Campaigners for better control of online pornography 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 casting young-looking adults portraying children.
Suggested changes to government bills aim to:
- Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by site algorithms.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to generate private images without permission.
- Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content.
The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
