🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Age Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Regulator Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the UK has fallen significantly since the roll-out of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the use of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Immediate Fall in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an swift fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the top provider in the UK. Data reveals that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than before the end-of-July deadline. Later data shows this slump in viewing continued beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking internet traffic through another country—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 users prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content online. Actions included reporting the content to the platform to muting the person who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing harmful material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations Advocates for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by using youthful performers portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site systems. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years offline finally are extended to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the UK has fallen significantly since the roll-out of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications regulator. At the same time, the use of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Immediate Fall in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an swift fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the top provider in the UK. Data reveals that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than before the end-of-July deadline. Later data shows this slump in viewing continued beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking internet traffic through another country—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 users prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content online. Actions included reporting the content to the platform to muting the person who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing harmful material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government stated it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official. Advocates Push For Tighter Online Regulations Advocates for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by using youthful performers portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site systems. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to reports of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years offline finally are extended to the digital age.