🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Site Visits Falls After Identity Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, States Regulator Traffic to pornography platforms in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the country's communications authority. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Immediate Fall in User Numbers After Law Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an immediate reduction in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures shows that user traffic to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than before the late July deadline. Later data indicates this slump in site visits persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—surged following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering damaging content on the internet. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to stop 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 scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the government stated it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for better control of adult content have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site systems. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
Traffic to pornography platforms in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the country's communications authority. At the same time, the adoption of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Immediate Fall in User Numbers After Law Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an immediate reduction in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures shows that user traffic to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than before the late July deadline. Later data indicates this slump in site visits persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent geographic blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—surged following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering damaging content on the internet. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to stop 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 scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the government stated it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for better control of adult content have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site systems. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Create a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.