UK Pornography Traffic Declines Following Age Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog
Traffic to pornography websites in the UK has decreased markedly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the usage of specialist software designed to bypass these barriers has risen.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures After Law Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an swift reduction in visits to popular online adult platforms, including the leading provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than before the end-of-July deadline. Later analysis suggests this downward trend in viewing continued beyond August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks
Reacting to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic restrictions by masking connections via another nation—surged after 25 July.
User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from around 650,000 users prior to the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites.
Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content online. Steps taken included reporting the material to the site to muting the person who shared it.
This survey was conducted prior to new regulations came into force that require social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material.
Ministers Announce Examination of Adult Content Legislation
In a related development, the government announced it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age.
“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official.
Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Regulations
Campaigners for better control of online pornography have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using youthful performers portraying children.
Suggested amendments to government bills seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site algorithms.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to create private images without permission.
- Create a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on adult platforms and act on complaints of illegal content.
The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.