British Pornography Traffic Falls Following Identity Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog
Traffic to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has increased.
Immediate Drop in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate decline in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis shows this decline in site visits continued beyond August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
Reacting to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July.
User numbers peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, with latest numbers standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services.
Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content
Elsewhere, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the platform to muting the person who posted it.
This survey was carried out prior to new rules took effect that require platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material.
Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Legislation
Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.
“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official.
Advocates Call For Stricter Online Controls
Advocates for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using young-looking performers dressed as children.
Proposed amendments to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Introduce tighter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site systems.
- Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to generate private images without permission.
- Create a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of unlawful content.
The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
