UK Pornography Traffic Falls After Age Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, Reports Watchdog
Traffic to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has risen.
Sharp Fall in User Numbers Following Rule Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an swift decline in traffic to major pornography sites, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures shows that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
In total, traffic to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Restrictions
Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing internet traffic through another country—increased dramatically after 25 July.
User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services.
Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content online. Actions included reporting the material to the platform to blocking the user who posted it.
This research was carried out before new rules came into force that compel social media companies to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Government Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.
“The review will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.
Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Regulations
Campaigners for better regulation of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children.
Suggested changes to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Introduce tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform systems.
- Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of illegal content.
The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
