British Adult Content Traffic Falls After Age Checks, Yet VPN Usage Surges, Reports Watchdog
Visitor numbers to pornography sites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to dodge these barriers has increased.
Sharp Drop in User Figures After Rule Enforcement
The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate fall in visits to popular pornography sites, including the leading site in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can get around location-based restrictions by routing connections via another nation—more than doubled following 25 July.
Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography services.
Young People Taking Action to Harmful Material
In other findings, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Actions included reporting the content to the site to blocking the person who posted it.
This survey was conducted prior to new rules took effect that require platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material.
Government Announce Review of Pornography Laws
In a related development, the government stated it would review the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age.
“The review will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in relation to making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Controls
Advocates for tighter control of adult content have called on the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children.
Proposed amendments to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Apply stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, separate oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content.
The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.