đ Share this article British Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Age Checks, But VPN Usage Surges, States Watchdog Visitor numbers to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Immediate Fall in User Numbers Following Law Implementation The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt decline in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the leading provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform 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 ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a âlower levelâ than prior to the late July implementation date. Subsequent data indicates this slump in site visits persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)âwhich can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another countryâmore than doubled following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Responding to Harmful Material In other findings, the regulator's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the user who posted it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Government Launch Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern online world. âThe review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,â stated a justice minister. Advocates Call For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using youthful adults portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by site systems. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate oversight agency to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Immediate Fall in User Numbers Following Law Implementation The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt decline in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the leading provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform 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 ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a âlower levelâ than prior to the late July implementation date. Subsequent data indicates this slump in site visits persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)âwhich can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another countryâmore than doubled following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is âmuch lowerâ than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Responding to Harmful Material In other findings, the regulator's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the user who posted it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Government Launch Review of Adult Content Laws In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern online world. âThe review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,â stated a justice minister. Advocates Call For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called âbarely legalâ material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using youthful adults portraying children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often filmed in environments like childrenâs bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by site systems. Introduce further controls on ânudificationâ technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Create a new, separate oversight agency to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.