🔗 Share this article British Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Age Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog Access to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Immediate Fall in Visitor Numbers Following Law Implementation The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an swift reduction in visits to major pornography sites, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, traffic to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data indicates this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Evade Restrictions In response to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic restrictions by masking connections through another country—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content on the internet. Actions included reporting the material to the site to muting the person who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing 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 platform timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Government Launch Examination of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children. Proposed amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to complaints of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.
Access to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, as reported by the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the usage of specialist software designed to circumvent these barriers has surged. Immediate Fall in Visitor Numbers Following Law Implementation The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an swift reduction in visits to major pornography sites, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that user traffic to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, traffic to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data indicates this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Evade Restrictions In response to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic restrictions by masking connections through another country—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from around 650,000 users before the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with current figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content In other findings, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing distressing content on the internet. Actions included reporting the material to the site to muting the person who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing 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 platform timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material. Government Launch Examination of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers stated it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The examination will investigate the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a justice minister. Campaigners Push For Stricter Digital Regulations Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children. Proposed amendments to legislation aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child. Introduce stricter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to generate private images without permission. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform inspections on adult platforms and respond to complaints of illegal content. The campaigners argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.