🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Site Visits Falls After Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, States Watchdog Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly since the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has surged. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate reduction in visits to leading pornography sites, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data indicates this decline in site visits persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking internet traffic through another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current numbers at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Responding to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the regulator's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern digital age. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Advocates Call For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site systems. Add further controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
Visitor numbers to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly since the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the country's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has surged. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate reduction in visits to leading pornography sites, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures reveals that user traffic to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data indicates this decline in site visits persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Checks Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic blocks by masking internet traffic through another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. Usage peaked at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with current numbers at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Responding to Harmful Material Elsewhere, the regulator's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from flagging the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The primary way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern digital age. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Advocates Call For Tighter Digital Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site systems. Add further controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to own software designed to create private images without permission. Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.