🔗 Share this article UK Adult Content Traffic Falls After Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, States Watchdog Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the UK has seen a notable drop since the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the nation's communications authority. Concurrently, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has surged. Sharp Fall in User Numbers Following Law Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate fall in traffic to popular online adult platforms, such as the leading provider in the UK. Figures 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. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent analysis indicates this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—surged after 25 July. Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since decreased, with current figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult services. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, 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 ranged from flagging the content to the platform to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations came into force that require platforms to stop 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 social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving harmful material. Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official. Advocates Call For Tighter Online Controls Campaigners for better regulation of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Suggested amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.
Visitor numbers to pornography platforms in the UK has seen a notable drop since the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the nation's communications authority. Concurrently, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has surged. Sharp Fall in User Numbers Following Law Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate fall in traffic to popular online adult platforms, such as the leading provider in the UK. Figures 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. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent analysis indicates this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks In response to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic blocks by routing internet traffic through another nation—surged after 25 July. Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the verification began. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has since decreased, with current figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for adult services. Young People Responding to Harmful Online Content In other findings, 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 ranged from flagging the content to the platform to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was carried out prior to new regulations came into force that require platforms to stop 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 social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving harmful material. Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age. “The review will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official. Advocates Call For Tighter Online Controls Campaigners for better regulation of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers dressed as children. Suggested amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an indecent image of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, separate regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and respond to reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.