UK Pornography Traffic Declines After Age Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Regulator
Access to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has risen.
Sharp Drop in User Figures Following Law Implementation
The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an prompt reduction in traffic to major online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Data reveals that user traffic to this site in August were 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, traffic to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data shows this decline in viewing persisted past August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions
In response to the new regulations, adoption of VPN software—which can get around geographic restrictions by masking connections through another nation—surged following 25 July.
User numbers reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the checks began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites.
Young People Taking Action to Harmful Material
Elsewhere, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content online. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the site to blocking the person who shared it.
This survey was conducted prior to new rules took effect that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Government Launch Examination of Pornography Legislation
Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age.
“The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, among other things, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister.
Advocates Call For Stricter Online Controls
Advocates for better control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by using youthful adults dressed as children.
Proposed amendments to government bills aim to:
- Ban pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Apply stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms.
- Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission.
- Create a new, independent oversight agency to perform spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content.
The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally are extended to the online sphere.