UK Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Identity Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Usage Spikes, Reports Watchdog
Traffic to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the country's communications regulator. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to circumvent these barriers has surged.
Immediate Drop in User Numbers Following Law Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an swift fall in visits to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
In total, traffic to the ten most-visited adult services in the UK have now stabilized at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data shows this decline in site visits persisted past August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions
Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based restrictions by masking connections through another nation—more than doubled after 25 July.
User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest numbers at around 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than traffic for pornography sites.
Teenagers Responding to Damaging Online Content
In other findings, the watchdog's report found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions included reporting the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it.
This research was conducted prior to new regulations came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from seeing harmful content, such as material related to suicide and adult material. The primary way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were serving harmful material.
Ministers Announce Examination of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the ministers stated it would review the legislation relating to pornography to assess whether it is adequate in the ever-developing online world.
“The examination will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a government official.
Campaigners Call For Tighter Digital Regulations
Campaigners for better control of adult content have called on the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking performers dressed as children.
Suggested amendments to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Apply tighter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is heavily recommended by site systems.
- Add further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create private images without permission.
- Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of illegal content.
The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
