🔗 Share this article British Pornography Traffic Declines After Age Checks, But VPN Use Surges, Reports Watchdog Access to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to circumvent these restrictions has risen. Sharp Drop in User Figures After Law Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an swift decline in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Later data suggests this slump in site visits continued past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—more than doubled following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the content to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that require platforms to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to suicide and adult material. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing harmful material. Government Announce Review of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking performers dressed as children. Suggested amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
Access to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to circumvent these restrictions has risen. Sharp Drop in User Figures After Law Implementation The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an swift decline in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than before the late July implementation date. Later data suggests this slump in site visits continued past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Checks In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can get around geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—more than doubled following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for pornography services. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the content to the site to muting the person who posted it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that require platforms to stop children from seeing harmful content, including material related to suicide and adult material. The primary way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing harmful material. Government Announce Review of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in relation to criminalising, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Controls Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have called on the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking performers dressed as children. Suggested amendments to government bills seek to: Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site algorithms. Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of illegal content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.