🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Site Visits Declines Following Age Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Regulator Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Immediate Drop in Visitor Figures Following Rule Implementation The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate reduction in visits to popular pornography sites, including 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. In total, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July implementation date. Later analysis shows this downward trend in viewing persisted past August. Surge in VPN Usage to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic through another country—surged after 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks began. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, with current figures at around 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the regulator's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content on the internet. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to blocking the person who posted it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter regulation of online pornography have called on the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform systems. Add further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the adoption of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Immediate Drop in Visitor Figures Following Rule Implementation The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate reduction in visits to popular pornography sites, including 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. In total, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the late July implementation date. Later analysis shows this downward trend in viewing persisted past August. Surge in VPN Usage to Evade Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic through another country—surged after 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks began. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, with current figures at around 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the regulator's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content on the internet. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to blocking the person who posted it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation Separately, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter regulation of online pornography have called on the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by platform systems. Add further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.