UK Adult Content Traffic Declines After Identity Verifications, Yet VPN Usage Spikes, States Regulator
Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the UK has seen a notable drop since the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the usage of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has surged.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Numbers After Rule Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an immediate decline in visits to major online adult platforms, including the leading 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 compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
Overall, traffic to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this decline in viewing persisted past August.
Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks
In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass location-based blocks by routing connections through another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services.
Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken included reporting the content to the platform to muting the person who posted it.
This research was carried out prior to new rules took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material.
Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws
In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.
“The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister.
Advocates Push 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 performers portraying children.
Proposed changes to government bills seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site systems.
- Add additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to generate non-consensual nude images.
- Create a new, separate regulatory body to conduct inspections on pornography sites and respond to reports of unlawful content.
The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
