🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Traffic Declines After Identity Checks, Yet VPN Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog Traffic to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly since the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Law Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt fall in traffic to popular online adult platforms, such as the most visited site in the UK. Data indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis indicates this downward trend in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions In response to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking connections through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Controls Advocates for tighter regulation 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 using young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of creating 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 research indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally apply to the online sphere.
Traffic to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly since the introduction of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to bypass these blocks has risen. Sharp Fall in User Figures Following Law Enforcement The introduction of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt fall in traffic to popular online adult platforms, such as the most visited site in the UK. Data indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the late July deadline. Subsequent analysis indicates this downward trend in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions In response to the new regulations, use of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking connections through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites. Young People Taking Action to Damaging Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This research was conducted prior to new rules came into force that compel platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Pornography Legislation In a related development, the government stated it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the ever-developing online world. “The examination will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding making illegal, among other things, harmful portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Controls Advocates for tighter regulation 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 using young-looking adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to government bills aim to: Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of creating 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 research indicates is often promoted by platform systems. Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of illegal content. The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally apply to the online sphere.