🔗 Share this article British Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Identity Checks, Yet VPN Use Surges, States Regulator Visitor numbers to pornography sites in the UK has decreased markedly since the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these restrictions has risen. Immediate Fall in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an prompt reduction in visits to major pornography sites, including the leading site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later data suggests this downward trend in site visits persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic through another nation—increased dramatically following 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the material to the site to blocking the person who posted it. This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern digital age. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to legislation seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site systems. Add further controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to create private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
Visitor numbers to pornography sites in the UK has decreased markedly since the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these restrictions has risen. Immediate Fall in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an prompt reduction in visits to major pornography sites, including the leading site in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later data suggests this downward trend in site visits persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic through another nation—increased dramatically following 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult services. Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the material to the site to blocking the person who posted it. This research was carried out prior to new rules came into force that require platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Examination of Adult Content Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern digital age. “The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children. Proposed amendments to legislation seek to: Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by site systems. Add further controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to create private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on complaints of illegal content. The advocates contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.