UK Adult Content Traffic Falls After Age Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog
Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Concurrently, the use of tools designed to circumvent these barriers has surged.
Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers After Law Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate reduction in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the most visited site in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
Overall, traffic to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the late July deadline. Subsequent data indicates this downward trend in viewing continued beyond August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Bypass Checks
In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking connections through another country—more than doubled following 25 July.
Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 users before the verification were introduced. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.
Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken included reporting the material to the site to muting the person who posted it.
This research was carried out prior to new rules took effect that require platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were showing inappropriate material.
Government Announce Review of Adult Content Legislation
In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing online world.
“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Controls
Campaigners for tighter control of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children.
Proposed amendments to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover 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 platform algorithms.
- Add additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on adult platforms and act on complaints of illegal content.
The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.