British Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, States Regulator
Traffic to adult content sites in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these restrictions has risen.
Immediate Drop in Visitor Numbers After Law Implementation
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an swift fall in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the leading site in the UK. Figures indicates that user traffic to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis suggests this decline in viewing persisted beyond August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions
Reacting to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing connections through another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July.
Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites.
Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material
In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the platform to blocking the user who posted it.
This survey was conducted before new regulations took effect that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material.
Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the ministers stated it would review the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.
“The review will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official.
Advocates Call For Tighter Digital Controls
Campaigners for better regulation of online pornography have called on the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children.
Suggested changes to legislation aim to:
- Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Introduce tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by platform systems.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of illegal content.
The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
