British Adult Content Traffic Declines After Identity Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Regulator
Visitor numbers to adult content websites in the UK has decreased markedly since the enforcement of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of tools designed to dodge these blocks has increased.
Sharp Fall in User Figures After Rule Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July caused an immediate reduction in traffic to popular pornography sites, including the most visited site in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers to this site in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
Overall, traffic to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data indicates this decline in viewing continued past August.
Surge in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing connections through another nation—more than doubled following 25 July.
User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 users prior to the checks were introduced. However, the regulator stated that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers standing at around 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites.
Young People Responding to Damaging Material
Elsewhere, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken included reporting the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it.
This survey was conducted before new regulations came into force that compel platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material.
Government Announce Review of Pornography Legislation
In a related development, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the modern digital age.
“The examination will look into the efficacy of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Call For Tighter Online Regulations
Campaigners for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by casting young-looking performers portraying children.
Suggested changes to government bills aim to:
- Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of creating an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child.
- Apply stricter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform algorithms.
- Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess software designed to create private images without permission.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content.
The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for decades offline finally are extended to the online sphere.
