🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Site Visits Declines After Age Checks, Yet VPN Use Surges, Reports Regulator Access to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Sharp Drop in User Numbers After Law Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an swift fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading site in the UK. Data shows that visitor numbers to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the late July implementation date. Later data shows this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing connections through another country—more than doubled following 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 users prior to the checks began. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Actions included flagging the content 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 seeing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing harmful material. Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the ministers announced it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
Access to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Sharp Drop in User Numbers After Law Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an swift fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, such as the leading site in the UK. Data shows that visitor numbers to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, traffic to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the late July implementation date. Later data shows this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing connections through another country—more than doubled following 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 users prior to the checks began. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Actions included flagging the content 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 seeing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing harmful material. Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the ministers announced it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Regulations Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.