🔗 Share this article British Adult Content Site Visits Falls After Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has decreased markedly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to bypass these blocks has surged. Immediate Fall in Visitor Figures Following Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate reduction in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this decline in viewing continued past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based blocks by masking connections via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken ranged from flagging the material to the platform to muting the person who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern digital age. “The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform algorithms. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.
Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has decreased markedly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications authority. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to bypass these blocks has surged. Immediate Fall in Visitor Figures Following Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate reduction in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this decline in viewing continued past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based blocks by masking connections via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Teenagers Responding to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken ranged from flagging the material to the platform to muting the person who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern digital age. “The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform algorithms. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the digital age.