🔗 Share this article British Pornography Site Visits Declines After Age Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog Traffic to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the roll-out of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an immediate reduction in traffic to popular pornography sites, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures shows that user traffic to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent analysis indicates this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing internet traffic through another country—surged following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it. This survey was carried out before new rules came into force that require social media companies to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the government announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Push For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Add further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create private images without permission. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
Traffic to adult content sites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the roll-out of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to dodge these barriers has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Implementation The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an immediate reduction in traffic to popular pornography sites, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures shows that user traffic to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent analysis indicates this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing internet traffic through another country—surged following 25 July. User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it. This survey was carried out before new rules came into force that require social media companies to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the government announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Push For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Add further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create private images without permission. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.