🔗 Share this article British Adult Content Traffic Declines Following Identity Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Regulator Access to pornography platforms in the UK has fallen significantly since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the country's communications authority. Concurrently, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has increased. Sharp Drop in User Numbers After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt decline in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited site in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the late July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing persisted past August. Surge in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic blocks by routing connections via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the site to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out before new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age. “The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Controls Campaigners for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using youthful adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation seek to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce additional controls 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 conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to complaints of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.
Access to pornography platforms in the UK has fallen significantly since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the country's communications authority. Concurrently, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these blocks has increased. Sharp Drop in User Numbers After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July caused an prompt decline in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited site in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the late July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this slump in viewing persisted past August. Surge in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions Reacting to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around geographic blocks by routing connections via another country—increased dramatically after 25 July. User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 users prior to the checks began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services. Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the site to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out before new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that recommendation systems were serving harmful material. Ministers Announce Review of Adult Content Legislation In a related development, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age. “The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, harmful depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Controls Campaigners for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using youthful adults dressed as children. Suggested changes to legislation seek to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child. Introduce stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce additional controls 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 conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to complaints of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades offline finally apply to the digital age.